Biological Molecules

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to biological molecules, their structures, and functions, based on lecture notes from BIO 112.

Organic compounds

Compounds that contain carbon and are the building blocks of life.

Polymers

Large molecules made up of repeating monomer units.

Monomers

Small, basic molecular units that can join together to form polymers.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that splits a molecule by adding water.

Dehydration reaction

A chemical process that links monomers by removing water.

Carbohydrates

Biological molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used for energy.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar molecule.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of two monosaccharide units.

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Saturated fats

Fats with no double bonds in their fatty acid chains, typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fats

Fats with one or more double bonds in their fatty acid chains, generally liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

Lipids that form the structural basis of cell membranes, consisting of two fatty acids, glycerol, and a phosphate group.

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings, including hormones.

Proteins

Macromolecules made up of amino acids that perform a variety of functions in the body.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group.

Peptide bonds

Covalent bonds formed between amino acids in a protein.

Denaturation

The process by which a protein loses its shape and function due to environmental changes.

Nucleic acids

Biomolecules that store and transmit genetic information, including DNA and RNA.

Nucleotide

The monomer unit of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Double helix

The structural shape of DNA, formed by two intertwined strands.

Hydrophilic

Substances that are water-attracting.

Hydrophobic

Substances that repel water.

Functional groups

Specific groupings of atoms responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of a molecule.