Bio 101 Biological Molecules

These flashcards cover important vocabulary and concepts from the Bio 101 lecture on biological molecules, including organic molecules, macromolecules, and their structures.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that make up the bodies of living organisms and have a carbon-based core with attached functional groups that confer specific chemical properties.

Macromolecules

Large molecules composed of smaller subunits known as monomers; includes proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and lipids.

Monomers

Small, similar components that are the building blocks of macromolecules.

Polymers

Chains of monomers assembled together that form macromolecules.

Dehydration Synthesis

The process of linking two monomers together by removing a hydroxyl group from one and a hydrogen from another, resulting in the release of a molecule of water.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by adding a molecule of water.

Amino Acids

Small molecules that serve as the building blocks of proteins, each consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a functional group.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond that links two amino acids together.

Polypeptide

An assembled chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, forming a protein.

Primary Structure

The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, determining all other levels of protein structure.

Secondary Structure

The initial folding of the amino acid chains, often forming coils or sheets due to non-polar regions being forced together.

Tertiary Structure

The final three-dimensional shape of a protein, formed by further twisting and folding from the primary sequence.

Quaternary Structure

The spatial arrangement of two or more polypeptide chains in a protein.

Denature

The process in which changes to a protein's environment cause it to unfold and become inactive.

Nucleic Acids

Long polymers that store genetic information, comprised of monomers called nucleotides.

Nucleotides

The building blocks of nucleic acids, consisting of a five-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Simple Carbohydrates

Small carbohydrates made up of one or two monomer subunits, including monosaccharides and disaccharides.

Monosaccharides

Single sugar molecules, the simplest form of carbohydrates; for example, glucose.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made up of long chains of monosaccharides, such as starch and cellulose.

Lipids

Nonpolar molecules including fats and phospholipids, which are not soluble in water and are used for energy storage and as structural components.

Saturated Fats

Fats with the maximum number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon chain.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats with fewer than the maximum number of hydrogen atoms on the carbon chain.