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Biological molecules Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Define nutrients

A

Nutrients are chemical substances in food that provide energy and materials needed by the body

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2
Q

Define a polymer

A

A polymer is a macro-molecule, composed of many repeated subunits

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3
Q

Define condensation reaction

A

Condensation reaction is a chemical reaction where 2 or more simple molecules join to form a larger biological molecule with the removal of water

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4
Q

Define hydrolysis

A

Hydrolysis is the splitting up of a complex biological molecule into its component units with the addition of water

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5
Q

Give an example of how hydrolysis works in our body

A

Process of digestion

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6
Q

Name some polysaccharides and their monomers

A

Starch - Glucose
Glycogen - Glucose
Cellulose - Glucose

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7
Q

What elements are carbohydrates made up of

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
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8
Q

What are the groups of carbohydrates

A
  • Monosaccharides (glucose, fructose, galactose)
  • Disaccharides (maltose, sucrose, lactose)
  • Polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose)
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9
Q

What are the properties of monosaccharides

A
  • Sweet tasting
  • Soluble in water
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10
Q

What is the bond formed between monosaccharides

A

Glycosidic bond

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11
Q

What is maltose made up of

A

Glucose + Glucose

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12
Q

What is sucrose made up of

A

Glucose + Fructose

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13
Q

What is lactose made up of

A

Glucose + Galactose

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14
Q

Where is starch found

A

Plants only

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15
Q

Where is glycogen found

A

Animals

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16
Q

How are starch, glycogen and cellulose formed

A

Condensation reaction of large numbers of glucose molecules

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17
Q

Where is glycogen stored in mammals

A
  • Liver
  • Muscles
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18
Q

Why are starch and glycogen suitable as storage materials

A
  • Easily hydrolysed to glucose when needed
  • Insoluble in water so it will not affect water potential of cells
  • Too large to diffuse through cell membranes
  • Compact shape occupies less space than the individual glucose molecules that make up a starch or glycogen molecule
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19
Q

How are glucose molecules joined up in starch

A
  • Long straight chains
  • Branched chains
20
Q

How are glucose molecules joined up in glycogen

A

Highly branched chains

21
Q

Why does cellulose have different properties compared to starch and glycogen

A

Glucose molecules that form cellulose are bonded differently

22
Q

What are the functions of a cellulose cell wall

A
  • Provide mechanical support for plant
  • Resist expansion when water enters plant by osmosis
23
Q

What are the functions of carbohydrates

A
  • Glucose is a ready source of energy for body to utilise
  • Glucose acts as a substrate for respiration
  • (Deoxy)ribose sugar used in formation of nucleic acids
  • Forms lubricants like mucus
  • Forms nectar in flowers
  • Cellulose forms supporting structures
24
Q

What elements are lipids made up of

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
25
Q

What are the properties of lipids

A
  • Insoluble in water
  • Soluble in organic solvents
26
Q

What are the groups of lipids

A
  • Triglycerides (fatty acids, glycerol)
  • Phospholipids
27
Q

Define a fatty acid

A

A fatty acid is a long hydrocarbon chain that has a carboxyl functional group

28
Q

When is a hydrocarbon chain saturated

A

When it has no carbon-carbon double bonds

29
Q

What is the formula of glycerol

A

C3H8O3

30
Q

How is one triglyceride molecule formed

A

Formation of one triglyceride molecule is by the condensation reaction of 3 fatty acid molecules and 1 glycerol molecule with the removal of 3 water molecules

31
Q

What is an ester bond

A

Bond formed between 1 fatty acid and glycerol

32
Q

What are the functions of triglycerides

A
  • Used for energy storage as it can yield twice as much energy as carbohydrates
  • Acts as a heat insulator in blubber
  • Allows for buoyancy in aquatic mammals
  • Acts as a protective layer to absorb shock
  • Important component of myelin sheath as it acts as electrical insulator
  • Provides metabolic water when oxidised
  • Acts as a solvent
33
Q

Why do triglycerides yield more energy than carbohydrates

A

Triglycerides contain more carbon-hydrogen bonds than carbohydrates

34
Q

What are phospholipids

A

A group of compound lipids that contains 2 fatty acid molecules, 1 glycerol molecule, and a phosphate group

35
Q

Is the phosphate group of a phospholipid hydrophilic or hydrophobic

A

Hydrophilic

36
Q

Are the fatty acid tails of a phospholipid hydrophilic or hydrophobic

A

Hydrophobic

37
Q

What are the functions of phospholipids

A
  • Major component of biological membranes
38
Q

What elements are proteins made up of

A
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen
  • Nitrogen
    (Sometimes sulfur)
39
Q

Why do proteins have diverse functions

A

Each protein type has a unique 3D shape

40
Q

What is the monomer of a protein or polypeptide

A

Amino acid

41
Q

What is the monomer of a polynucleotide

A

Nucleotide

42
Q

What is a peptide bond

A

Bond between amino group of an amino acid and carboxyl group of another amino acid

43
Q

How are polypeptides formed

A

Polypeptides are formed from the condensation reaction of amino acids with the removal of water molecules

44
Q

What are the functions of proteins

A
  • Synthesis of new cells
  • Biological catalysts like enzymes speed up reactions
  • Chemical messengers like hormones stimulate target organs
  • Transport proteins like haemoglobin transport oxygen
  • Structural proteins like collagen forms skin and bones
  • Antibodies are used to protect against infections
  • Source of energy during starvation
45
Q

What is Kwashiorkor

A

A form of protein deficiency disease

Biology (20 decks)

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