Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biology Kireth > Biological Molecules > Flashcards

Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

what is the difference between a monomer and a polymer?

A

monomer = single repeated units
polymer = where monomers are joined in large numbers (above 2)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the four biological molecules and what are they made up of? e.g CHONP

A
  1. lipids - glycerol and three fatty acids
    CHO
  2. nucleic acid - nucleotide
    CHONP
  3. carbohydrates - monosaccharides
    CHO
  4. proteins - amino acids
    CHON
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the uses of the molecules?

A

lipid = insulation (myelin sheath)

protein = muscle tissue (hair collagens)

nucleic acid = DNA (directs cell activity, needed for coding traits)

Carbohydrates = cellulose cell wall (starch)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what are some examples of carbohydrates? What are carbohydrates formed with?

A

They are formed with monosaccharides.
maltose = x2 a-glucose
sucrose = a-glucose + fructose
lactose = a-glucose + galactose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is the difference between condensation and hydrolysis?

A

condensation forms the bond/product and hydrolysis breaks the bond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Starch (amylose) is a polysaccharide. What is the monomer and the properties of starch?

A

monomer = a-glucose
1-4 glycosidic bonds
- unbranched and coiled
- compact = good for storage
- large, doesn’t use simple diffusion
- insolube, doesn’t affect water potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Starch (amylopectin) is a polysaccharide. What is the monomer and the properties of starch?

A

monomer= a-glucose
1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
- branched, for rapid hydrolysis
- compact, large
- insoluble
- used for respiration in plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Glycogen is a polysaccharide. What are the properties and the monomer?

A

monomer = a-glucose
1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds
- very branched
- compact, large, insoluble
- stores glucose in animals for respiration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Cellulose is a polysaccharide. What are the properties and the monomer?

A

monomer = b-glucose
1-4 glycosidic bond
- unbranched
- straight chained, long, insoluble
- high tensile strength
- flexible, unreactive
- provides rigidity and strength to cell wall

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are lipids made up of?

A

glycerol and three fatty acids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Draw a glycerol.

A

google it or look at picture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Draw a fatty acid.

A

google it or look at picture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the difference between a saturated and an unsaturated fatty acid?

A

saturated = single bonds in the hydrocarbon chain
unsaturated = one or more double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

To form a lipid a condensation reaction take place, what is this specific reaction also known as?

A

esterification

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

ester bonds form between the glycerol and three fatty acids. What is the product called?

A

triglyceride

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the components of a phospholipid?

A

phosphate, glycerol and two fatty acids

contains on saturated and one unsaturated chain.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the phospholipid bilayer?

A

2 layers of phospholipids with the hydroPHILIC heads on the outside and the hydroPHOBIC tails on the inside.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Cholestrol is a sterol. What is the definition of cholestrol?

A

A constituent of membranes and the source of steroid hormones. (It regulates fluidity of membranes) and the hormone sits in the hydroPHOBIC region.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is the generic structure of an amino acid?

A

google it or look at picture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is a protein?

A

]a section of DNA made up of bases (A,T,C,G) in a specific order, leads to a specific order of amino acids = protein
- usually 20 amino acids in one protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Where does the peptide bond form?

A

between the C and the N

22
Q

How are polypeptide bonds formed?

A

when many amino acids are joined together by peptide bonds in a chain.

23
Q

What is the primary protein structure?

A

the sequence/order of amino acids, which are joined by a polypeptide bond.

24
Q

What is the secondary protein structure?

A

where the primary structure is coiled/folded, and is held in place by hydrogen bonds between the C=O (carboxyl group) and the N-H (amino) group.

25
What is the tertiary protein structure?
(this is the further folding of the secondary structure) - when two cistines join together they form a disulphide bridge held together by ionic bonds - 3D shape of the protein + more hydrogen bonds - hydroPHOBIC/PHILIC interactions between polar/non polar R groups
26
What is the quaternary protein structure? and an example of a protein?
when you have two or more polypeptide bonds (in the tertiary strucutre) and molecules arranged to form a single protein molecule example = haemoglobin
27
What is a globular protein?
It is compact, roughly spherical shape They have hydrophilic R-groups on the outside which makes then water soluble.
28
What is a fibrous protein?
formed from long, insoluble molecules and they aren't folded into a 3D shape like globular proteins
29
What is the structure and function of insulin? is it globular or fibrous?
GLOBULAR structure = compact and spherical, formed when proteins fold into tertiary structure and hydrophilic R groups are on the OUTSIDE. function = regulates blood glucose concentration = soluble can be transported through the blood = specific receptors on cell surface membranes therefore have specific shapes
30
What is a conjugated protein?
it is a globular protein, that contains a prosthetic group e.g haem group = Fe2+
31
What is the structure and function of haemoglobin? is it globular or fibrous?
GLOBULAR structure = it is a quaternary protein made from polypeptide bonds and it contains 2 (alpha + beta) subunits the subunits contain a prosthetic haem group - these ions combine with O2 ions function = oxygen carrying pigment that transports O2 around the body, soluble so it can be carried through the blood.
32
What is the structure and function of an enzyme? is it globular or fibrous? example = catalyse
GLOBULAR structure = catalyse is a quaternary protein containing 4 haem groups. The presence of Fe2+ allows it to interact with hydrogen peroxide function = catalyst - speeds up the rate of reaction by lowering the activation energy (speeds up the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide)
33
What are the properties and functions of keratin? is it globular or fibrous?
FIBROUS properties = strong, insoluble (can be flexible - the more disulphide bonds, the more flexible it is) function = strengthens hair and nails helping them grow
34
What are the properties and function of elastin? is it globular or fibrous?
FIBROUS properties = low modulus of the skin (can stretch and return back to its original form) = deforms reversibility with high tensile strength, its hydrophobic and insoluble function = provides strength, elasticity and adds coil to the skin
35
What are the properties and the function of collagen? is it globular or fibrous?
FIBROUS properties = (it is a connective tissue) rigid and resistant to stretching also insoluble function = provides structural support to the extra cellular space of connective tissue
36
What are the properties of water? hint = there's 6
1. has a HIGH specific heat capacity (amount of energy required to raise 1kg of water by 1 degree) 2. water is less dense in its solid form = ice floats on water (because it forms lattice structures, more spread out) 3. cohesion (water + water) = h2o can bond to other water molecules through hydrogen bonds, contributes to surface tension 4. surface tension (pulling of hydrogen bonds) 5. adhesion (water and another substance) hydrogen bonds to other molecules 6. Universal solvent = effective for transporting things through blood
37
what is good about water having a high specific heat capacity?
- this means more h+ bonds need to be broken, requires more energy = water can absorb more heat + release it good to maintain aqueos environment
38
What is capillary action?
the process whereby water can rise up a narrow tube against the force of gravity (due to cohesion and adhesion)
39
What is polarity?
uneven sharing of electrons in a molecule
40
Polar covalent bonds are formed between the o2 and two hydrogens in water. Explain how this works?
- oxygen has more protons in the nucleus than hydrogen = can attract NEGATIVE ions - oxygen is attracted to other hydrogens on other water molecules, this means that... hydrogen bonds form with water + different substances that are polar/ionic
41
What does iodine test for? What is the method? What is the color change?
... tests for starch = 1cm (cubed) of sample to dimple in spotting tile = add a few drops of iodine KI solution brown -> black
42
What does Biuret solution test for? What is the method? What is the color change?
... Proteins = add 2cm (cubed) of sample solution to test tube = add 2cm (cubed)of biuret solution brown -> purple/lilac
43
What is the emulsification test for? What is the method? What is the color change?
... lipids = add 1cm(cubed) of ethanol to test tube = add 1cm(cubed) of sample, shake vigorously to dissolve = add 1cm(cubed) of water clear -> white cloudy precipitate
44
What us the Benedict's test for? What is the method? What is the color change?
... reducing sugars = add 2cm(cubed) of sample solution to test tube = add 2cm(cubed)of benedicts reagent = heat gently in waterbath at 85 degrees for 2 mins whatever -> green/yellow/brick red precipitate
45
What is acid hydrolysis for? What is the method? What is the color change?
... Non - reducing sugars = add 2cm(cubed) of sample solution to test tube = add 1cm(cubed) of 1ML HCL = boil in waterbath for 1min = neutralise with NaHCO3 powder (efferverscence will occur) =check pH indicator paper = next carry out Benedict's test whatever -> green/yellow/brick red precipitate
46
What is chromatography and what are the two types?
- allows the separation of components from a mixture of molecules - paper and thin layer
47
What is the mobile phase in paper and thin layer chromatography?
- where the molecules can move - a liquid solvent
48
What is the stationery phase of paper and thin layer chromatography?
- where the molecules can’t move - paper = piece of paper - thin layer = layer of solid
49
What is the method for paper chromatography?
- draw a pencil line 1.5cm up from the bottom of the paper - place the first dot of the sample on this line and repeat until all the samples are there - put the paper into the solvent ensuring the solutes aren’t in the solvent - when the solvent reaches the top of the paper, mark with a pencil (solvent front) and let the paper dry
50
How do you calculate rf values?
distance travelled by solute divided by distance travelled by solvent

Biology Kireth (17 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions