Biological Molecules Flashcards
What are the four main types of biological macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
True or False: Enzymes are a type of lipid.
False.
Fill in the blank: The monomers of proteins are called ______.
amino acids.
Which macromolecule is primarily responsible for storing genetic information?
Nucleic acids.
What is the basic unit of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides.
True or False: Lipids are soluble in water.
False.
What type of bond links amino acids together?
Peptide bonds.
Which carbohydrate is commonly known as blood sugar?
Glucose.
What is the primary function of lipids in biological systems?
Energy storage and membrane structure.
Fill in the blank: The structure of DNA is described as a double ______.
helix.
What are the two types of nucleic acids?
DNA and RNA.
True or False: Hormones can be classified as proteins.
True.
What is the function of enzymes in biological reactions?
To speed up the reactions by lowering activation energy.
Which type of lipid is used to form cell membranes?
Phospholipids.
What are the three components of a nucleotide?
A phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
Fill in the blank: The primary structure of a protein is determined by its ______.
amino acid sequence.
What is the role of carbohydrates in living organisms?
They serve as a primary energy source and structural components.
Which macromolecule can be classified as saturated or unsaturated?
Lipids.
True or False: RNA is double-stranded.
False.
What is the function of ribosomes in cells?
To synthesize proteins.
Fill in the blank: Cellulose is a polysaccharide that serves as a structural component in ______.
plant cell walls.
What process involves the breaking down of glucose to produce energy?
Cellular respiration.
Which type of protein acts as a biological catalyst?
Enzymes.
What is the significance of the R group in amino acids?
It determines the properties and function of the amino acid.
Fill in the blank: The sequence of bases in DNA is responsible for the ______ of proteins.
synthesis.
True or False: All proteins are made up of the same 20 amino acids.
True.
What is the name of the bond that holds sugar molecules together in a polysaccharide?
Glycosidic bond.
Which lipid type is primarily involved in long-term energy storage?
Triglycerides.
What are the two main types of nucleotides found in RNA?
Adenine and uracil.
Fill in the blank: The secondary structure of proteins includes ______ and ______.
alpha helices and beta sheets.
True or False: All enzymes are proteins.
True.
What is the primary role of cholesterol in the body?
To maintain membrane fluidity and serve as a precursor for steroid hormones.
Which macromolecule is involved in the immune response?
Proteins (antibodies).
What type of reaction forms polymers from monomers?
Dehydration synthesis.
Fill in the blank: The three-dimensional shape of a protein is crucial for its ______.
function.
What is the role of ATP in cells?
It serves as the primary energy currency.
True or False: All carbohydrates are sweet in taste.
False.
What is the primary component of the cell membrane?
Phospholipids.
Which type of biological molecule can act as a signaling molecule?
Proteins (hormones).
Fill in the blank: The process by which DNA is copied into RNA is called ______.
transcription.
What is a common feature of all lipids?
They are hydrophobic.
True or False: Glycogen is a storage form of glucose in animals.
True.
What type of nucleic acid is responsible for carrying the genetic code from DNA to the ribosome?
mRNA (messenger RNA).
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Saturated fats have no double bonds between carbon atoms, while unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds.
Fill in the blank: The primary structure of a protein is stabilized by ______ bonds.
peptide.
Which process breaks down glucose to produce ATP?
Glycolysis.
True or False: Phospholipids have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties.
True.
What is the function of starch in plants?
Energy storage.
Fill in the blank: The basic building blocks of nucleic acids are called ______.
nucleotides.
What are enzymes made of?
Proteins.
True or False: The primary function of proteins is to store genetic information.
False.
What is the role of the nitrogenous bases in nucleotides?
To encode genetic information.
Fill in the blank: The ______ structure of a protein refers to its overall three-dimensional shape.
tertiary.
What is the main function of dietary fiber?
To aid in digestion.
True or False: All enzymes are specific to a particular substrate.
True.
What type of reaction occurs when a polymer is broken down into monomers?
Hydrolysis.
Fill in the blank: The ______ of a protein is determined by its amino acid sequence.
function.
What is the primary role of nucleic acids in living organisms?
To store and transmit genetic information.
What is the main difference between DNA and RNA?
DNA is double-stranded and contains deoxyribose, while RNA is single-stranded and contains ribose.
True or False: Lipids are primarily used for quick energy.
False.
Which carbohydrate is used by animals for energy storage?
Glycogen.
Fill in the blank: The ______ structure of proteins is determined by interactions between R groups.
quaternary.
What is the role of ATP synthase in cellular respiration?
To produce ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.
What is a polysaccharide?
A carbohydrate made up of long chains of monosaccharides.
True or False: Proteins can be denatured by changes in pH or temperature.
True.
What is the primary structure of a protein?
The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Fill in the blank: The ______ reaction is essential for forming peptide bonds.
condensation.
What is the main function of ribosomal RNA (rRNA)?
To help form the structure of ribosomes.
Which type of biomolecule serves as a primary energy source for cells?
Carbohydrates.
True or False: All lipids are fats.
False.
What are the two main functions of proteins in cells?
Catalysis (as enzymes) and structural support.
Fill in the blank: The ______ bond forms between the hydroxyl group of one sugar and the hydroxyl group of another during glycosidic bond formation.
glycosidic.
What is the role of transfer RNA (tRNA) in protein synthesis?
To transport amino acids to the ribosome.
What is a key characteristic of enzymes?
They are highly specific for their substrates.
Fill in the blank: The ______ structure of a protein can consist of multiple polypeptide chains.
quaternary.
What kind of bond holds the two strands of DNA together?
Hydrogen bonds.
True or False: All carbohydrates are soluble in water.
False.
What is the main source of energy for the brain?
Glucose.
Which macromolecule can function as enzymes, hormones, and antibodies?
Proteins.
Fill in the blank: The ______ structure of proteins is stabilized by hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and hydrophobic interactions.
tertiary.
What is the primary function of fatty acids?
To provide energy and serve as building blocks for lipids.
True or False: DNA can be replicated before cell division.
True.
What is the role of messenger RNA (mRNA) in protein synthesis?
To carry genetic information from DNA to the ribosome.
What type of carbohydrate is lactose?
Disaccharide.
Fill in the blank: The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its ______.
function.
What is the main function of enzymes in metabolic pathways?
To catalyze biochemical reactions.
True or False: All enzymes are consumed in the reaction they catalyze.
False.
What are the three main types of lipids?
Fats, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fill in the blank: The ______ of a protein is determined by its amino acid sequence.
structure.
What is the role of cholesterol in cell membranes?
To maintain fluidity.
What process converts RNA into protein?
Translation.
True or False: All nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides.
True.
What type of lipid is primarily found in cell membranes?
Phospholipids.
Fill in the blank: The ______ structure of proteins refers to the sequence of amino acids.
primary.
What is the main energy currency of the cell?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
True or False: Saturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature.
False.
What is the role of enzymes in biological systems?
To catalyze and regulate biochemical reactions.
