Unit One: Biological Molecules Overview

Hydrogen Bonds

Require lots of energy to change state of matter.

Cohesion

The property of water that allows molecules to stick to themselves.

Adhesion

The property of water that allows it to stick to other substances.

High Specific Heat

Water's ability to absorb a lot of heat before changing temperature.

Ice Density

Ice is less dense than water due to hydrogen bonds.

Solvent Properties of Water

Excellent solvent due to its polarity.

Major Elements of Life

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur (CHNOPS).

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of C, H, and O that function as energy sources and structural components.

Monosaccharides

The monomer units of carbohydrates.

Lipids

Macromolecules made of C, H, and O that include fats, steroids, and phospholipids.

Saturated Lipids

Lipids with no double bonds between carbon atoms.

Unsaturated Lipids

Lipids with one or more double bonds between carbon atoms.

Proteins

Macromolecules made of C, H, O, N, and S, made up of amino acids.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent bonds that link amino acids together in proteins.

Denaturation

The process by which proteins lose their shape and therefore function due to changes in temperature, pH, or salt.

Chaperonins

Proteins that assist in the proper folding of other proteins.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules made of C, H, O, N, and P, consisting of nucleotides.

Nucleotide

The monomer unit of nucleic acids.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that joins monomers by removing water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks polymers by adding water.

Phospholipids

Molecules that make up cell membranes, consisting of a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.

Fluidity

The quality of membranes that allow them to bend and move.

Selective Permeability

The ability of a membrane to allow certain molecules to pass through while blocking others.

Aldose

A type of carbohydrate that contains an aldehyde group.

Ketose

A type of carbohydrate that contains a ketone group.

Alpha Glucose

A form of glucose where the OH groups are in the same direction.

Beta Glucose

A form of glucose where the OH group on carbon 1 is flipped.