Biological Macromolecules Review

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to biological macromolecules and their characteristics.

Biological Macromolecules

Very large molecules built from smaller organic molecules, made of monomers joined by covalent bonds.

Monomer

A single unit by itself; the building block of polymers.

Polymer

A chain of monomers; many units linked together.

Carbohydrates

Compounds represented by the formula Cn(H2O)n, with a ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen of 1:2:1. Also known as saccharides.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate formed from two monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.

Polysaccharide

Carbohydrates that are made up of many monosaccharides; examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Lipids

A group of hydrophobic biomolecules, including fats, oils, waxes, and steroids, primarily involved in energy storage and insulation.

Triglyceride

A lipid composed of glycerol and three fatty acids; common examples include fats and oils.

Phospholipid

A lipid consisting of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group; a major component of cell membranes.

Protein

Macromolecules composed of amino acids, essential for various bodily functions including catalyzing reactions and providing structure.

Amino Acid

The building blocks of proteins; there are 20 common amino acids that combine in different sequences to form proteins.

Nucleic Acids

Large complex molecules that include DNA and RNA, essential for carrying genetic instructions.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries the genetic code in organisms; double-stranded.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, which carries information from DNA for protein synthesis; single-stranded.

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids that must be obtained from the diet, as the body cannot synthesize them.

Enzymes

Proteins that catalyze and speed up chemical reactions in the body.