Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What are monomers?

A

Small, basic molecular units that can join together to form polymers

Examples include amino acids, nucleotides, and monosaccharides.

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

What are polymers?

A

Large, complex molecules formed from long chains of monomers

Examples include proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.

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

What type of reaction is used to form polymers from monomers?

A

Condensation reaction

This reaction involves the removal of water.

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

What type of reaction breaks down polymers into monomers?

A

Hydrolysis reaction

This reaction involves the addition of water.

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

What are carbohydrates composed of?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

The general formula for carbohydrates is (CH2O)n.

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

What are the three main types of carbohydrates?

A

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides

Each type varies in complexity and structure.

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

What is a monosaccharide?

A

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit

Examples include glucose and fructose.

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

What is a disaccharide?

A

A carbohydrate formed from two monosaccharides joined together

Examples include sucrose (glucose + fructose) and lactose (glucose + galactose).

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

What is a polysaccharide?

A

A carbohydrate composed of long chains of monosaccharide units

Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

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

What is the primary function of carbohydrates?

A

To provide energy and serve as structural components

They are also involved in cellular communication.

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

Fill in the blank: Starch is a storage polysaccharide found in _______.

A

Plants

It is composed of amylose and amylopectin.

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

Fill in the blank: Glycogen is a storage polysaccharide found in _______.

A

Animals

It is highly branched and serves as a quick energy source.

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

True or False: Cellulose is a polysaccharide that provides structural support in plant cell walls.

A

True

It is composed of unbranched chains of β-glucose units.

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

What role do glycoproteins play in biological systems?

A

They are involved in cell recognition and signaling

Glycoproteins are proteins with carbohydrate groups attached.

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

What are the building blocks of proteins?

A

Amino acids

There are 20 different amino acids that combine in various sequences to form proteins.

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

What type of bond forms between amino acids in proteins?

A

Peptide bond

This bond is formed through a condensation reaction.

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

Fill in the blank: The sequence of amino acids in a protein determines its _______.

A

Structure and function

Any change in the sequence can affect the protein’s activity.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q
A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the four main types of biological molecules?

A

Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids

These molecules are essential for life and perform various functions in living organisms.

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

Define proteins.

A

Large, complex molecules made up of amino acids

Proteins serve as enzymes, structural components, and play roles in immune response.

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

What is the basic unit of carbohydrates?

A

Monosaccharides

Examples include glucose and fructose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What are lipids primarily composed of?

A

Fatty acids and glycerol

Lipids include fats, oils, and steroids.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What are nucleic acids responsible for?

A

Storing and transmitting genetic information

The two main types are DNA and RNA.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Fill in the blank: The monomers of proteins are _______.

A

Amino acids

There are 20 different amino acids that combine in various ways to form proteins.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

True or False: All lipids are soluble in water.

A

False

Lipids are generally hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What type of bond forms between amino acids?

A

Peptide bond

Peptide bonds are formed through a dehydration reaction.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

List the functions of carbohydrates.

A
  • Energy source
  • Structural components
  • Cell recognition

Carbohydrates can be classified as monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Fill in the blank: The primary energy source for cells is _______.

A

Glucose

Glucose is a simple sugar used directly by cells for energy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What are the two types of nucleic acids?

A

DNA and RNA

DNA stores genetic information while RNA plays a role in protein synthesis.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

Double helix

DNA consists of two strands that coil around each other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Fill in the blank: The primary function of enzymes is to _______.

A

Catalyze biochemical reactions

Enzymes lower the activation energy required for reactions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

True or False: All proteins function as enzymes.

A

False

While many proteins act as enzymes, others have structural or transport roles.

33
Q

What is the role of lipids in the cell membrane?

A

Forming a barrier that separates the interior of the cell from the outside environment

Phospholipids are a major component of cell membranes.

34
Q

List the components of a nucleotide.

A
  • A phosphate group
  • A sugar
  • A nitrogenous base

Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids.

35
Q

Fill in the blank: Saturated fats contain _______ bonds between carbon atoms.

A

Single

Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature.

36
Q

What is the primary function of RNA?

A

To transfer genetic information from DNA to the ribosome for protein synthesis

RNA plays a crucial role in the process of translation.

37
Q

What are lipids?

A

Lipids are a group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.

Examples include fats, oils, waxes, and steroids.

38
Q

What is the primary function of lipids in living organisms?

A

Energy storage, insulation, and forming cell membranes.

Lipids also play roles in signaling and acting as hormones.

39
Q

What are triglycerides composed of?

A

Glycerol and three fatty acids.

Triglycerides are the main form of stored energy in animals.

40
Q

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

A

Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms; unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.

Saturated fats are typically solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fats are liquid.

41
Q

What are phospholipids, and why are they important?

A

Phospholipids are lipids with a phosphate group that form the bilayer of cell membranes.

They have hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails, creating a barrier for cell integrity.

42
Q

What role does water play in biological systems?

A

Water is a solvent, regulates temperature, and is involved in biochemical reactions.

It also provides structure to cells and organisms.

43
Q

What are the unique properties of water?

A

Cohesion, adhesion, high specific heat, and density.

These properties are crucial for maintaining life and supporting biological processes.

44
Q

What are inorganic ions?

A

Inorganic ions are charged particles that do not contain carbon and are essential for various biological functions.

Examples include sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride ions.

45
Q

Fill in the blank: Inorganic ions are important for _______.

A

cell signaling, enzyme function, and maintaining osmotic balance.

46
Q

True or False: All lipids are fats.

A

False.

Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, and steroids, which have different structures and functions.

47
Q

What is the significance of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic nature of phospholipids?

A

It allows them to form bilayers that create cell membranes, separating the interior of cells from the external environment.

48
Q

What is the role of triglycerides in the body?

A

They serve as long-term energy storage and provide insulation and protection for organs.

49
Q

What is meant by the term ‘high specific heat’ in relation to water?

A

Water can absorb a lot of heat without a significant increase in temperature, helping to regulate environmental temperatures.

50
Q

Fill in the blank: Water’s _______ property allows it to stick to other substances.

51
Q

What is the role of sodium ions in biological systems?

A

Sodium ions are crucial for nerve impulse transmission and muscle contraction.

52
Q

What is a key characteristic of saturated fats?

A

They have no double bonds in their fatty acid chains.

54
Q

What are proteins made of?

A

Proteins are made of amino acids

There are 20 different amino acids that combine in various sequences to form proteins.

55
Q

What is the primary structure of a protein?

A

The primary structure is the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain

This sequence determines the protein’s unique characteristics.

56
Q

What type of bond links amino acids together?

A

Peptide bonds

Peptide bonds form between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

57
Q

What is the secondary structure of proteins?

A

The secondary structure refers to the folding or coiling of the polypeptide chain

Common forms include alpha helices and beta-pleated sheets.

58
Q

Define tertiary structure in proteins.

A

The tertiary structure is the overall 3D shape of a protein

It results from interactions between the side chains of amino acids.

59
Q

What is quaternary structure in proteins?

A

The quaternary structure is the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein

Not all proteins have quaternary structure; it is present in those with more than one polypeptide.

60
Q

What role do enzymes play in biological processes?

A

Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions

They lower the activation energy required for reactions.

61
Q

True or False: All proteins are enzymes.

A

False

While many enzymes are proteins, not all proteins function as enzymes.

62
Q

What factors can affect enzyme activity?

A

Factors include temperature, pH, and substrate concentration

Each enzyme has an optimal temperature and pH at which it functions best.

63
Q

Fill in the blank: The functional region of an enzyme is called the _______.

A

active site

The active site is where the substrate binds to the enzyme.

64
Q

What is denaturation in proteins?

A

Denaturation is the alteration of a protein’s structure due to external stress

This can be caused by heat, pH changes, or chemicals, leading to loss of function.

65
Q

List the four levels of protein structure.

A
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
  • Quaternary

Each level of structure is crucial for the protein’s function.

66
Q

What is the function of structural proteins?

A

Structural proteins provide support and shape to cells and tissues

Examples include collagen and keratin.

67
Q

What are transport proteins?

A

Transport proteins carry substances across cell membranes or throughout the body

Hemoglobin is a well-known transport protein that carries oxygen in the blood.

68
Q

What is the role of antibodies in the immune system?

A

Antibodies identify and neutralize foreign objects like bacteria and viruses

They are specialized proteins produced by the immune system.

69
Q

Define the term ‘enzyme specificity’.

A

Enzyme specificity refers to the ability of an enzyme to select for a particular substrate

This is due to the unique shape and chemical properties of the active site.

71
Q

What are nucleic acids?

A

Nucleic acids are large biomolecules essential for all known forms of life. They include DNA and RNA.

72
Q

What is the primary function of DNA?

A

The primary function of DNA is to store and transmit genetic information.

73
Q

What is the role of RNA?

A

RNA plays a crucial role in translating genetic information from DNA into proteins.

74
Q

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

A

The building blocks of nucleic acids are nucleotides.

75
Q

What are the components of a nucleotide?

A

A nucleotide consists of a phosphate group, a sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

76
Q

What are the four nitrogenous bases in DNA?

A

The four nitrogenous bases in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G).

77
Q

What is ATP?

A

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is a nucleotide that serves as the primary energy carrier in cells.

78
Q

How is energy released from ATP?

A

Energy is released from ATP when it is hydrolyzed to ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate.

79
Q

What is the significance of ATP in cellular processes?

A

ATP is crucial for various cellular processes, including muscle contraction, nerve impulse propagation, and biosynthesis.