DNA/RNA

Macromolecules

Large complex molecules, such as carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, and proteins.

Carbohydrate

A macromolecule that functions in short-term energy storage, consisting of monosaccharides as monomers and polysaccharides as polymers.

Lipid

A macromolecule that functions in long-term energy storage, insulation, and protection, composed of glycerol and fatty acids.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules that store genetic information for protein synthesis, with nucleotides as monomers and examples including DNA and RNA.

Protein

Macromolecules that control reactions, build bones and muscles, and transport substances, consisting of amino acids as monomers.

Chemical Reaction

Interactions between molecules where bonds are formed and/or broken to create products from reactants.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs energy from the surroundings, resulting in products with more energy than the reactants.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases energy into the surroundings, producing products that have less energy than the reactants.

Activation Energy

The energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction within cells.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a biological catalyst to speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.

Substrate

A reactant that an enzyme acts upon, fitting into the enzyme's active site.

DNA

The material that stores genetic information in chromosomes, consisting of two strands in a double helix structure.

Nucleotide

The building block of nucleic acids, composed of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogen-containing base.

Purines

Nitrogen bases that have a double ring structure; include adenine and guanine.

Pyrimidines

Nitrogen bases that have a single ring structure; include cytosine and thymine.

Base Pairing

The specific pairing of nitrogenous bases in DNA: Adenine pairs with Thymine, and Cytosine pairs with Guanine.

Mutations

Changes in the DNA sequence that can be beneficial, harmful, or silent.

Transcription

The process of making an mRNA copy from a DNA strand.

Translation

The process of using mRNA to assemble amino acids into proteins at the ribosome.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

A type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis.

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A type of RNA that carries amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis.

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

The type of RNA that forms the core of ribosome's structure and catalyzes protein synthesis.