Biology Unit 3: Macromolecules and Enzyme Function

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to macromolecules, enzymes, and cellular transport mechanisms.

Monomer

A single subunit that can combine to form larger molecules called polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of long chains of repeating subunits (monomers).

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, including simple sugars and polysaccharides.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar units like glucose.

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate made up of many monosaccharides linked together, such as starch and glycogen.

Lipids

Macromolecules made primarily of carbon and hydrogen, including fats, oils, and phospholipids.

Glycerol

A component of lipids; one of the monomers that combines with fatty acids to form triglycerides.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins, of which there are 20 different types.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids bonded together, which can fold into a functional protein.

Enzyme

A type of protein that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions in biological processes.

Activation Energy

The initial energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Denaturation

A process in which proteins lose their three-dimensional structure due to environmental changes, impairing their function.

Homeostasis

The mechanism by which organisms maintain stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Selective Permeability

The property of the cell membrane that allows certain molecules to pass through while blocking others.

Passive Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane without the use of energy, following the concentration gradient.

Active Transport

The movement of molecules across a cell membrane using energy to move against the concentration gradient.

Diffusion

The passive movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

Solvent

A substance, like water, in which solutes (such as salts or sugars) are dissolved.

Solute

A substance that is dissolved in a solvent to form a solution.