Biological Macromolecules and Reactions

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to biological macromolecules, their building blocks, and the reactions involved in their synthesis and breakdown.

Macromolecules

Large biological molecules composed of smaller building blocks, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Polymer

A long molecule made up of many similar or identical building blocks linked together.

Monomer

A building block molecule that can be linked to other monomers to form a polymer.

Enzymes

Large molecules that act as catalysts, speeding up reactions involved in making or breaking down polymers.

Catalyst

Anything that speeds up a chemical reaction.

Dehydration reaction

A chemical reaction that binds two monomers together by removing a water molecule, thus synthesizing a polymer.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks apart a polymer into its constituent monomers by adding a water molecule, with 'hydro' referring to water and 'lysis' meaning to break apart.

Carbohydrates

A class of biological molecules that are sugars and their polymers.

Monosaccharides

The simplest carbohydrates, also known as simple sugars.

Biological Macromolecules

Large biological molecules (macro meaning big or large) that are complex and possess unique properties derived from the specific arrangement of their atoms. Main types include Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.

Polymer

A long molecule composed of many repeating building blocks (monomers). Examples include Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids.

Monomer

The individual building blocks that link together to form a polymer.

Enzymes (Catalysts)

Large molecules that facilitate (speed up) chemical reactions involved in making or breaking down polymers without being consumed in the process.

Dehydration Reaction

A chemical reaction that binds two monomers together to synthesize a longer polymer, involving the loss of a water molecule (H_2O).

Hydrolysis Reaction

A chemical reaction that breaks a polymer apart into shorter polymers or individual monomers, by adding a water molecule (H_2O).

Carbohydrates

A class of biological molecules that include sugars and are polymers.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, also known as simple sugars.