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Principles Of Biology > Topic 1: Biological Molecules > Flashcards

Topic 1: Biological Molecules Flashcards

(50 cards)

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1
Q

Most chemistry in biology is _____

A

Aqueous

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2
Q

Water forms _____ bonds with nearby ________ molecules

A

Hydrogen; hydrophilic

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3
Q

______ and ______ sections of a molecule will interact with water and are called _______

A

Polar; charged; hydrophilic

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4
Q

Do nonpolar molecules interact with water? Why or why not?

A

No because those molecules are hydrophobic, which is due to water being a polar molecule

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5
Q

Define amphipathic/amphiphilic

A

A molecule is said to be amphipathic/amphiphilic when it has polar and nonpolar regions

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6
Q

Anything with ____ _____ or ____ and ____ will make the molecules more nonpolar

A

Diatomic molecules; carbon; hydrogen

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7
Q

Define Macromolecules

A

Large molecules made by living organisms

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8
Q

Define monomers

A

Smallest functional molecule that retains the chemical and functional properties of a specific class of molecule

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9
Q

What elements make up organic macromolecules

A

Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, other minor elements

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10
Q

What does a condensation reaction do?

A

Removes water and brings monomers together

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11
Q

What does hydrolysis do?

A

Adds water to break monomers apart

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12
Q

Where is water located in the following chemical reactions: Condensation reaction, Hydrolysis

A
  1. Water in the products
  2. Water in the reactants
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13
Q

Describe Nucleic Acids

A

Carry genetic blueprints of every cell and instructions for functioning of that cell

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14
Q

What can nucleic acids be modified into?

A

Energy carrier molecules like ATP and GTP

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15
Q

How to energy carrier molecules (ATP) transfer energy?

A

Transfers high energy phosphates during biochemical reactions in a cell

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16
Q

Describe DNA

A

Genetic material found in all living organisms

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17
Q

What are the 3 components of DNA

A
  1. Pentose Sugar Molecule
  2. Phosphate Group
  3. Nitrogenous Base
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18
Q

What is RNA?

A

Mostly involved in protein synthesis; used to communicate with the rest of the cell

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19
Q

What are carbohydrates used for?

A

To provide quick energy to the body

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20
Q

What are the three types of carbohydrates and what are their purposes?

A

Monosaccharides - simple sugars; quick energy
Disaccharides - used for quick energy transport
Polysaccharides - longer chains linked by covalent bonds

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21
Q

Define starch

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A

stored form of sugars in plants made up of amylose and amylopectin

22
Q

Define glycogen

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A

storage form of glucose in humans and other vertebrates made from monomers of glucose

23
Q

When glucose levels decrease, what happens?

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A

Glycogen stored in the liver and muscle cells is broken down to release glucose

24
Q

What is the purpose of cellulose?

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A

Found in the cell walls of plants to provide structural support to the cell

25
What is cellulose made of?
Glucose monomers that are linked by bonds of particular carbon atoms
26
How cellulose part of the human organ systems?
Used as fiber in human digestive system because the glucose-glucose bonds cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes
27
What is chitin?
A nitrogenous carbohydrate made of monomers of sugar containing nitrogen
28
What is the chemical formula for monosaccharides?
(CH20)n
29
You have a solution that contains an enzyme that will break polysaccharides into monosaccharides. Which of the following additions will produce the most monosaccharides? Why? a. mole of sucrose b. mole of glucose c. mole of ATP d. mole of starch
d. mole of starch It is the biggest polysaccharide and will contain the most monosaccharides
30
Describe a lipid
Diverse group of compounds that are all hydrophobic or insoluble in water and dominated by carbon-hydrogen bonds (hydrocarbons)
31
What is the significance of the hydrocarbons within lipids?
Bonds are very stable and do not take on ionized or polar states
32
What are the functions of lipids?
long term energy storage, insulation from the environment, building blocks of steroids, constituent of cell membranes
33
What are the components of triglycerides?
molecule with 3 fatty acid tails and a glycerol backbone
34
What is glycerol?
organic compound with 3 carbon atoms, 5 hydrogen atoms, and 3 hydroxyl groups
35
Where are fatty acid tails located within a trigylceride?
Attached to the oxygen atoms in the hydroxyl group of the glycerol via a covalent bond (acidic carboxyl group)
36
What are the structural differences between saturated fat and unsaturated fat?
Saturated: linear in shape and solid at room temperature Unsaturated: kinks in the carbon chain and more fluid and liquid at room temperature
37
What is a major constituent of cell membranes including plasma membrane, membranes of major organelles, and smaller structures like lysosomes and secretory vesicles?
phospholipids
38
How is the phospholipid bilayer created?
Tails are hydrophobic and the heads are phosphates which are hydrophilic
39
What are hydrogenated fats?
Unsaturated fats with hydrogens; plant based oils changed to give the consistency of butter
40
What are the purposes of proteins?
Can be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective and serve in storage, transport, immunity, and membranes or toxins and enzymes
41
What can cause a protein to denature?
Changes in temperature, pH, and exposure to chemicals
42
Is denaturation reversible?
Yes because the primary structure of a protein is often preserved
43
Define primary structure
unique sequence and number of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
44
Define secondary structure
fold patterns resulting from interactions between the non-R group portions of amino acids
45
Define tertiary structure
folding patterns caused by chemical interactions between various amino acids and regions of the polypeptide
46
Define quaternary structure
interactions between subunits
47
What is the fundamental structures of all proteins?
1. Central carbon atom bonded to an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and Hydrogen atom 2. Variable group of atoms known as the "R" group
48
What kind of bond attaches proteins together?
Peptide bonds - special covalent bond created by a condensation reaction
49
Define Enzymes
Catalysts in biochemical reactions like digestion
50
Define hormones
chemical signaling molecules that allow cells and tissues to communicate with one another

Principles Of Biology (6 decks)

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