Biological Molecules Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to biological molecules, including the roles of carbon, functional groups, and the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.

Carbon

The backbone of life, forming the basis of biological molecules.

Functional Groups

Atoms or clusters of atoms that are covalently bonded to a carbon backbone, influencing the behavior of organic molecules.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction where -OH is removed from one molecule and H from another, forming a covalent bond and producing a polymer.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that adds a water molecule to break a bond within a polymer.

Polymers

Long molecules made of many similar building blocks (monomers), including carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Hydrocarbons

Molecules consisting only of carbon and hydrogen; they are non-polar and store a lot of energy.

Organic Chemistry

The study of carbon-containing compounds.

Macromolecules

Large molecules, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, that consist of smaller subunits.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins; each has a basic structure that includes an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group.

Levels of Protein Structure

The distinct levels of organization in protein structure, which include primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures.