Life's Biological molecules

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The main inorganic compound of all living organisms.

Water

Often called the building block of life.

Carbon

Macromolecules that are larger in size compared to inorganic compounds.

Organic molecules

A chain of carbon that can bond with carbon rings to form larger or more complex molecules.

Carbon Skeleton

The process of connecting molecules by removing water.

Dehydration reaction

The subunit of complex molecules.

Monomer

Molecules formed by linking together monomers.

Polymers

The process of breaking down polymers by adding water.

Hydrolysis reaction

Organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur).

Proteins

The basic building blocks of proteins.

Amino acids

Chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Peptides

Proteins that provide support to cells and tissues.

Structural proteins

Proteins responsible for chemical reactions in the body.

Enzymatic proteins

Proteins that act as carriers, moving substances into and out of cells.

Transport proteins

Proteins involved in the body's defense system against bacteria and viruses.

Defense proteins

Proteins that act as hormones or growth factors.

Regulatory or signal proteins

Proteins involved in muscle movement and contraction.

Contractile proteins

Proteins that serve as a source of amino acids and nourish growth and development.

Storage proteins

Amino acids that the body cannot produce and must be obtained from the diet.

Essential amino acids

Bonds that link amino acids together to form peptides or polypeptides.

Peptide bonds

Simple sugars with only one sugar unit.

Monosaccharides

Complex sugars made up of two molecules of monosaccharides chemically joined together.

Disaccharides

The chemical reaction where two monosaccharides join to form a disaccharide with the loss of a water molecule.

Condensation/dehydration synthesis

The chemical reaction where a water molecule is added to split a disaccharide into its component units.

Hydrolysis/hydrolytic reaction

Complex sugars made up of chains or branches of monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides

Organic substances that include fats and fat-like substances.

Lipids

Fatty acids that are solid at room temperature.

Saturated fatty acids

Fatty acids that are liquid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fatty acids

Important components of cell membranes.

Phospholipids

Organic compounds that store genetic information and function in protein synthesis.

Nucleic acids

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid.

DNA

Ribonucleic acid, a type of nucleic acid.

RNA

Organic compunds that serve as the main source of energy in all organism

Carbohydrates