BIO 112 - Chapter 3: The Molecules of Cells

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 3 of BIO 112, focusing on the essential molecules of life.

Organic compounds

Compounds that contain a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond.

Monomer

A small molecular unit that can join together to form polymers.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many monomer units linked together.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down polymers by adding water.

Dehydration reaction

A process that links monomers together to form polymers by removing water.

Carbohydrates

Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically with a 1:2:1 ratio.

Monosaccharides

The simplest carbohydrates, serving as monomer building blocks for more complex carbohydrates.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides linked together.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds.

Lipids

Hydrophobic biological molecules that are not built from monomers.

Phospholipids

Lipids that form the bilayer of cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids, a glycerol, and a phosphate group.

Steroids

Lipids with a four-fused carbon ring structure; important for cell membrane integrity and signaling.

Proteins

Polymers made from amino acid monomers that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R group.

Peptide bond

The bond formed between amino acids in a protein.

Denaturation

The process in which a protein loses its functional shape due to environmental conditions.

Nucleic acids

Polymers made up of nucleotide monomers; DNA and RNA are examples.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, composed of a five-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic information.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.