A1 Unity and Diversity of Molecules Flashcards
Solvent
definition
the larger volumed substance that is chemically able to dissolve other substances to create a solution
polarity
definition
a molecule with two opositely charged poles due to electrons not being distributed equally in the molecule
cohesion
definition
when two polar molecules form weak bonds between them
adhesion
definition
when a polar molecule is attracted to other polar molecules or surfaces of a different substance
capillary action
the ability of fluid to move up against gravity without any force in a small tube as a result of cohesian and adhesion forces
ways water is important to life
- living organisms didn’t evolve until it exysted
- allows many bodily functions like cell cytoplasm and blood
aqueous solution
definition
a solution that has water as its solvent e.g. cell cytoplasm, intercellular fluids and blood
hydrophilic
definition
a substance that readily disolves in or is attracted to water due to its polarity
hydrophobic
definition
substances that aren’t attracted to/don’t disolve in water, rather they are attracted to other non-polar substances
buoyancy
definition
the upwards force exterted on an object when placed in a medium
viscocity
definition
the stickiness of a fluid that determines how easily it flows
thermal conductivity
definition
the rate at which heat passes through or is passed to a material
specific heat capacity
definition
how much heat needs to be absorbed by a substance to raise its temperature by 1 degree
important hydrophilic molecules in living organsims
- salt
- glucose
- cellulose
important hydrophobic molecules in living organsims
- fats
- phospolipids
- some hormones
extraplanetary
definition
explanations that are factors outside of earth, its orbit or just in outerspace outside a planet
asteroid
definition
small rocky objects, much smaller than planets, that orbit the sun
extraterestrial life
definition
living organisms outside of earth that could include other planets, generally with favourable abiotic factors
factors that facilitate water retention on earth
- earth is far enough from the sun that it never gets boiled
- large size and strong graviatational pull stops the ocean and water vapour from escaping into space
nucleotide
definition
the repeated units that form nucleic acids made up of a pentose sugar, a phosphate group and a nitrogen base
polymer
definition
larger molecules (like DNA) that are made up of chemically joined monomers (like nucleotides)
hydroxyl group
definition
a common echemical group that is hte oxygen and one hydrogen connected to a larger molecule
condensation reaction
definition
a chemical reaction that joins two monomers together
nitrogenous bases of DNA
- adenine
- thymine
- cytosine and guanine
nitrogenous bases of RNA
- adenine
- thymine
- guanine
- uracil
messenger RNA (mRNA)
function
a single stranded copy of a single gene used for protein synthesis in ribosomes
transfer RNA
function
small loop of RNA that delivers amino acids to build proteins based on mRNA instructions
ribosomal RNA
function
the RNA that makes up ribosomes
adenosine triposphate (ATP)
a single nucleotide nucleic acid with three phosphate groups connected by high energy bonds
DNA as the universal genetic code
- in all living organisms
- all living organisms have the same 4 base pairs
- codons code for the same protein in all living organisms
directionality
definition
the specific alignment of nucleotides in particular whether the phosphate is facing up or down
histones
definition
proteins that DNA wraps aroud
nucleosome
definition
a cluster of 8 histones with DNA wrapped twice around them, and a H1 histone holding it all in place
replication
explain
the process whereby one double stranded DNA molecule is split into two and each side copies to create 2 double helices
transcription
explain
the process whereby DNA is copied in the nucleous to make mRNA for protein synthesis
translation
explain
the process of reading mRNA code to add the correct amino acide and build a protein in the ribosome
purine base
define
larger a double ringed nitrogenous base that makes adenine and guanine
pyrimidine
definition
a smaller nitrogenous base that makes up cutosine, thymine and uracil
