Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to carbon and the molecular diversity of life, including definitions of important terms and molecules.

Organic compound

A compound that contains carbon and is found in living organisms.

Macromolecules

Large molecules formed by the joining of smaller units called monomers.

Hydrocarbon

An organic molecule consisting only of carbon and hydrogen.

Isomers

Compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures and properties.

Functional groups

Chemical groups that replace hydrogen atoms in hydrocarbons and affect the function of molecules.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

An organic phosphate molecule that stores and releases energy for cellular processes.

Polymers

Long molecules made up of similar building blocks called monomers.

Dehydration reaction

A chemical reaction that joins two monomers by removing a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers by adding a water molecule.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, which are single sugar molecules.

Disaccharide

A sugar formed from two monosaccharides through a dehydration reaction.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrate polymers composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi.

Triglycerides

Fats composed of three fatty acids and glycerol, used for energy storage.

Phospholipids

Molecules that form cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to glycerol.

Proteins

Biologically functional molecules made of one or more polypeptides, which are chains of amino acids.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in cells.

Amino acids

The monomers of proteins containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable side chain (R group).

Nucleic acids

Biopolymers (DNA and RNA) responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information.

Gene expression

The process by which the information in a gene is used to synthesize functional gene products, typically proteins.

DNA

A nucleic acid that encodes the genetic instructions used in the development and function of living organisms.

RNA

A nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis, which conveys genetic information from DNA.

Complementary base pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA and RNA; A with T (or U in RNA) and G with C.