Biology stuffs

Monomer

Small building block of a larger molecule

Polymer

Large molecule made of repeating smaller units called monomers

Monomer → Polymer

Monomers join together to form polymers

Dehydration synthesis

A reaction that joins molecules by removing a molecule of water

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks molecules apart by adding water

Macromolecule

A very large molecule, often made from smaller subunits

Carbohydrate

Macromolecule made primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; used mainly for quick energy and structural support

Carbohydrate monomer

Monosaccharide

Monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule; the monomer of carbohydrates

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate made of two monosaccharides joined together

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate made of many monosaccharides joined together

Glucose

A monosaccharide used by cells as a major source of energy

Fructose

A monosaccharide commonly found in fruits

Galactose

A monosaccharide that combines with glucose to form lactose

Starch

A plant polysaccharide used to store energy

Glycogen

An animal polysaccharide used to store glucose

Cellulose

A plant polysaccharide that provides structural support in cell walls

Chitin

A polysaccharide that provides structural support in the exoskeletons of arthropods and cell walls of fungi

Carbohydrate function

Provides quick energy, short-term energy storage, and structural support

Carbohydrate elements

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Carbohydrate ratio

Often approximately 1 carbon : 2 hydrogen : 1 oxygen

Lipid

Macromolecule that is mostly nonpolar and used for long-term energy storage, insulation, and cell membranes

Lipid monomer

Lipids do not have one true repeating monomer, but many are built from glycerol and fatty acids

Glycerol

A three-carbon molecule that forms part of many lipids

Fatty acid

A hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group that forms part of many lipids

Triglyceride

A lipid made of one glycerol and three fatty acids

Phospholipid

A lipid made of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group

Phospholipid function

Makes up much of the cell membrane

Saturated fat

A fat whose fatty acid chains contain no carbon-carbon double bonds

Unsaturated fat

A fat whose fatty acid chains contain one or more carbon-carbon double bonds

Lipid function

Long-term energy storage, insulation, protection, and cell membrane structure

Lipid elements

Primarily carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; phospholipids also contain phosphorus

Lipid property

Generally hydrophobic and insoluble in water

Protein

Macromolecule made of amino acids that performs many functions in cells

Protein monomer

Amino acid

Amino acid

The monomer that makes up proteins

Peptide bond

The bond that joins amino acids together

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds

Protein structure

The specific shape and arrangement of a protein

Primary protein structure

The sequence of amino acids in a protein

Secondary protein structure

Local folding of a polypeptide into structures such as alpha helices and beta sheets

Tertiary protein structure

The overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide

Quaternary protein structure

The arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains in one protein

Protein function

Enzymes, transport, structure, defense, movement, signaling, and more

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed

Protein elements

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur

Denaturation

A change in a protein's shape that can cause it to lose its function

Amino acid structure

Contains an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, and variable R group attached to a central carbon

R group

The variable part of an amino acid that determines its properties

Nucleic acid

Macromolecule that stores and transmits genetic information

Nucleic acid monomer

Nucleotide

Nucleotide

The monomer that makes up nucleic acids

Nucleotide parts

Sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; nucleic acid that stores genetic information

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; nucleic acid involved in using genetic information to make proteins

DNA sugar

Deoxyribose

RNA sugar

Ribose

DNA bases

Adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine

RNA bases

Adenine, uracil, cytosine, and guanine

Adenine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA

Thymine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA but not RNA

Cytosine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA

Guanine

A nitrogenous base found in DNA and RNA

Uracil

A nitrogenous base found in RNA instead of thymine

DNA function

Stores genetic information

RNA function

Helps use genetic information to make proteins

Nucleic acid elements

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus

Nucleotide sugar

Contains a five-carbon sugar

Phosphate group

A phosphorus-containing group that is part of a nucleotide

Nitrogenous base

The nitrogen-containing part of a nucleotide that carries genetic information

DNA base pairing

A pairs with T, and C pairs with G

RNA base pairing

A pairs with U, and C pairs with G

Carbohydrate polymer

Polysaccharide

Protein polymer

Polypeptide

Nucleic acid polymer

Polynucleotide

Lipid polymer

Lipids are not true polymers because they are not made of repeating identical monomers

Carbohydrate building blocks

Monosaccharides

Protein building blocks

Amino acids

Nucleic acid building blocks

Nucleotides

Lipid building blocks

Glycerol and fatty acids

Carbohydrate main function

Quick energy and short-term energy storage

Lipid main function

Long-term energy storage

Protein main function

Performing a wide variety of cellular functions

Nucleic acid main function

Storing and transmitting genetic information

Carbohydrate bond

Glycosidic bond

Lipid bond

Ester bond

Protein bond

Peptide bond

Nucleic acid bond

Phosphodiester bond

Hydrophilic

Attracted to water

Hydrophobic

Repelled by water

Polar molecule

A molecule with an uneven distribution of electrical charge

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule without significant separated electrical charges