General Biology Classification and Composition of Matter

A set of 50+ vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in biology related to the classification and composition of matter.

Organic Compounds

Compounds that contain carbon and are necessary for cell structure and function.

Macromolecules

Large molecules including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, formed from smaller subunits called monomers.

Monomers

Small molecules that serve as the subunits of polymers.

Polymers

Long-chain molecules made of repeating monomer units.

Dehydration Reaction

The process of linking monomers to form polymers by removing water.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down polymers into monomers by adding water.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds that serve as the main source of energy for the body, ranging from small sugar subunits to large polysaccharides.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars that serve as basic energy sources, including fructose, glucose, and galactose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by bonded pairs of simple sugars, such as maltose and sucrose.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made of chains of glucose molecules, often not easily digested.

Glycogen

A storage form of energy in animals, primarily stored in the liver and muscles.

Cellulose

A structural component of plant cell walls, acting as dietary fiber.

Lipids

Organic substances that are hydrophobic and insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.

Fatty Acids

Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains; can be saturated or unsaturated.

Saturated Fats

Fats that are solid at room temperature and primarily derived from animal sources.

Unsaturated Fats

Fats that are liquid at room temperature and primarily derived from plant sources.

Triglycerides

Blood fats composed of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule.

Phospholipids

Major components of cell membranes, consisting of hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts.

Proteins

Large biomolecules essential for structure, function, and regulation of tissues and organs.

Amino Acids

The building blocks of proteins, linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions.

Simple Proteins

Proteins that yield only amino acids upon hydrolysis.

Conjugated Proteins

Proteins that yield amino acids and a non-protein group upon hydrolysis.

Nucleic Acids

Biopolymers essential to all known forms of life, including DNA and RNA.

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids comprised of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that contains the genetic blueprint.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.

Purines

Nitrogenous bases with a two-ring structure, including adenine and guanine.

Pyrimidines

Nitrogenous bases with a single-ring structure, including cytosine, thymine, and uracil.

Pentose Sugar

A monosaccharide with five carbon atoms, either ribose or deoxyribose.

Polynucleotides

Biopolymers formed from 13 or more nucleotides linked by phosphodiester bonds.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not mix with or dissolve in water.

Hydrophilic

Substances that are attracted to water and can dissolve in it.

Dietary Fiber

Plant-based carbohydrates that are not digested by the human body but are essential for gut health.

Hydrocarbon Chains

Long chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms that make up fatty acids.

Insulation

The property of lipids that helps maintain body temperature by reducing heat loss.

Energy Storage

The function of lipids to store more energy per gram than carbohydrates.

Structural Proteins

Proteins that provide support and shape to cells and tissues, like collagen and keratin.

Biological Catalysts

Substances that accelerate chemical reactions in biological systems, mainly enzymes.

Antibodies

Proteins that are part of the immune system and help fight infections.

Gene Expression

The process through which information from a gene is used to synthesize a functional gene product.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent bonds formed between amino acids during protein synthesis.

Hydration Shell

The layer of water molecules that surrounds solutes in solution.

Solvent

A substance that dissolves a solute, resulting in a solution.

Lactose

A disaccharide sugar made of glucose and galactose, found in milk.

Maltose

A disaccharide sugar composed of two glucose molecules.

Sucrose

Common table sugar, composed of glucose and fructose.

Sphingolipids

Lipids that are components of cell membranes and found in the brain.

Sweat Glands

Glands in the skin that utilize lipids to prevent water loss.

Cell Membrane

The semi-permeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.

Transcription

The process of copying a segment of DNA into RNA.

Translation

The process of synthesizing proteins from amino acids based on the sequence of mRNA.

Cell Signaling

The process by which cells communicate with each other using chemical signals.