Unit 1 Intro to Biology

acid

a solution that has a higher concentration of H3O+ than OH-

active site

the area of the enzyme that acts on the substrate

adhesion

clinging of one substance to another

amino acids

the monomers of proteins

base

a solution that has a higher concentration of OH- than H3O+

biology

the study of life

carbohydrate

one of the 4 organic macromolecules that has 4 calories of energy in 1 gram, has monomers of monosaccharides, and a ratio of CH2O

cellulose

a polysaccharide that makes up plant cell walls

cohesion

the tendency of molecules to stick together

conclusion

explains whether the experiment supports or rejects the hypothesis

condensation reaction

enzymatic (dehydration synthesis) reaction that removes a water molecule and bonds together monomers (subunits) forming a polymer

control group

the group that keeps the "normal" conditions (required to make comparisons)

control variables

the similarities between the experimental group and the control group

dependent variable

what you measure in an experiment

enzymes

proteins that catalyze (speed up) and regulate chemical reactions

experiment

a test of the hypothesis and prediction

experimental group

the group that is treated exactly the same as the control group except for the one variable that is being tested

fatty acids and glycerol

the subunits of lipid

glycogen

a polysaccharide used for energy storage in animals

hydrogen bond

weak bond that occurs when the positively charged hydrogen atom in one molecule is attracted to the negatively charged atom (such as oxygen) in another molecule

hydrolysis

enzymatic reaction that uses water in order to break down a polymer into monomers

hydrophilic

water-loving; dissolves in water

hydrophobic

water-fearing; does not dissolve in water

hypothesis

a proposed explanation

independent variable

the thing being tested; can be manipulated or changed by the scientist

inorganic

does not contain carbon

lipids

an organic molecule with 9 calories of energy in 1 gram, composed of subunits of fatty acids and glycerol, and is hydrophobic

monomer

smaller, simpler molecules that make up larger ones

monosaccharide

the monomers of carbohydrates

nucleic acids

an organic molecule composed of nucleotides

nucleotides

the monomers of nucleic acids

observation

leads a question or problem the scientist is trying to answer or solve

organic

contains carbon

organism

any living thing

peptide bond

holds amino acids together

phospholipid

the main component of the plasma membrane composed of 2 fatty acids, one phosphate, and one glycerol

polymer

consist of repeated, linked units

polypeptide

a chain of many amino acids

prediction

a statement that forecasts what would happen if the hypothesis were true

protein

an organic molecule that has 4 calories of energy in 1 gram, has monomers of amino acids, and held together by peptide bonds

saturated fats

contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms

solute

substance that is dissolved

solution

a mixture in which one or more substances are uniformly distributed in another substance

solvent

the dissolving agent in a solution

starch

a polysaccharide used for energy storage in plants

substrate

the reactant the enzyme is working on

surface tension

measure of how difficult it is to break the surface of a liquid

theory

when a hypothesis is supported by evidence and is verified over many years by many scientists

unsaturated fat

do not contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms