Biology SL Topic 2: Molecular Biology (copy)

Anabolism

the building of larger molecules from smaller molecules

Catabolism

the breaking down of larger molecules into smaller molecules

disaccharide

formed by two monosaccharides joined via a condensation reaction

examples of polysaccharides

starch, glycogen, cellulose

starch

the storage polysaccharide of plants

glycogen

the storage polysaccharide of animals and fungi

cellulose

a polymer of beta-glucose monomers

triglycerides

a form of lipid made up of one molecule of glycerol with three fatty acids

saturated fatty acid

bonds between carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon tails are all single bonds

unsaturated fatty acid

bonds between carbon atoms in the hydrocarbon tails are not all single bonds

monosaturated

fatty acids with one double carbon bond

polysaturated

fatty acids with multiple double carbon bonds

Cis-isomers

at the double carbon bond, the attached hydrogen atoms are all on the same side

Trans-isomers

at the double carbon bond, attached hydrogen atoms are on opposite sides

Proteins

polymers made of monomers called amino acids

Amino Acid

the monomers of polypeptides

R group

how each amino acid differs and why their properties vary

Fibrous proteins

composed of long and narrow strands with a structural role

globular proteins

composed of a compact and rounded shape with a functional role

protein denaturization

the irreversible change of protein conformation caused by temperature and pH extremes

proteome

the full range of proteins that a cell organism is able to produce

Enzymes

biological catalysts that are able to speed up the rate of chemical reactions

immobilized enzymes

an enzyme that is attached to an insoluble material to prevent mixing with the product

Nucleic Acids

DNA and RNA, the polymers of nucleotides

semi-conservative DNA replication

one strand of the ‘parent’ DNA is kept in the ‘daughter’ molecule

Helicase

the enzyme responsible for unwinding the double helix by breaking down hydrogen bonds

DNA polymerase

links nucleotides together to form a new strand using the pre-existing strand as a template

Transcription

when a mRNA molecule is produced from DNA

Translation

when an amino acid sequence is produced from mRNA

sense strand

the strand of the DNA molecule that that carries the genetic code

anti-sense strand

the strand that is transcribed to form the mRNA molecule

Codons

the pair of three bases on mRNA

anti-codons

tRNA molecules that are complimentary to codons of the mRNA

Cell respiration

the controlled release of energy from organic compounds to produce ATP through a series of chemical reactions that happen in every cell.

ATP

a source of energy for cellular processes

Aerobic respiration

requires oxygen and gives a large yield of ATP from glucose

Anearobic respiration

much lower energy yield when oxygen cannot reach the organism

Photosynthesis

when simple, inorganic compounds are converted into complex organic ones

Chlorophylls

primary pigments that absorb wavelengths in the blue-violet and red regions of the light spectrum

Carotenoids

accessory pigments that absorb wavelengths of the blue-violet region of the color spectrum