Bio Unit 3: The Molecules of Life Terms and Definitions

Biomolecule

A molecule essential to life such as protein, carbs, lipids, or nucleic acid

Functional Group

A cluster of atoms that gives a molecule specific chemical properties and reactivity.

Amino Group

A functional group consisting of a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more hydrogen atoms, typically involved in forming proteins.

Carboxyl Group

A carbon atom double bonded to a hydroxyl

Monomer

A small molecule that is the building block for a polymer

Polymer

A large molecule made of many repeating monomers

Hydroxyl Group

An oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction that buiklds a polymer by removing a water molecule 

Hydrolysis 

A reaction that breaks down a polymer by adding a water molecule 

Carbohydrate

A biomolecule used for energy and structure

Monosaccharide

A single sugar unit

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides linked together

Polysaccharides

A long polymer of many sugar units

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide in fungal cell walls

Cellulose

A structural that makes up plant cell walls

Glycogen

Energy storage polysaccharides in liver and skeletal muscles

Starch

Energy storage in plants

Protein

A diverse macromolecule that performs most cell functions

Hydrophobic

Repels from water

Hydrophilic

Mixes with water

Amino Acids

The monomer of a protein

Peptide

A short chain of amino acids linked by these bonds

Polypeptide

A long chain of amino acids

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up a chemical process

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to start a reaction

Substrate

A reactant an enzyme acts upon

Active Site

The groove on an enzyme where the substrate binds

Denature

To change a proteins shape causing it to lose functions

Lipid

A diverse hydrophobic molecule

Saturated Fat

A fatty acid with no double bonds

Unsaturated Fat

A fatty acid with one or more double bonds

Phospholipid 

Chain components of a cells membrane

Trans Fat

An unhealthy artificially altered unsaturated fat

Steroid

A lipid characterized by four fused rings

Nucleic Acids

Stores and transmits genetic information

Nucleotide

The monomer of DNA or RNA

Ribose

5- carbon sugars found in RNA

Deoxyribose

5- Carbon sugars found in DNA

Nitrogenous base

The part of a nucleotide that carries the genetic code

Carbonyl Group

A functional group consisting of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom