Biological Molecules definitions

Question 1

adhesion

Answer 1

A property of water molecules that creates an attraction between them
and surfaces that they are in contact with

Question 2

Amino acid

Answer 2

The monomers containing an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and a variable R group that make up proteins.

Question 2

Amino acid

Answer 2

The monomers containing an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and a variable R group that make up proteins.

Question 3

amylopectin

Answer 3

A branched polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose monomers joined by
α-1,6 glycosidic bonds that makes up starch along with amylose.

Question 4

amylose

Answer 4

An unbranched polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose monomers joined by
α-1,4 glycosidic bonds that makes up starch along with amylopectin.

Question 5

benedicts test

Answer 5

A biochemical test used to detect the presence of a reducing sugar in a
solution and distinguish between solutions of different reducing sugar concentrations.

Question 6

biuret test

Answer 6

A biochemical test that produces a purple colour when it is added to a solution
containing protein.

Question 7

cellulose

Answer 7

A linear polysaccharide that is the main component of the cell wall in plants and is
made up of many beta glucose molecules joined by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds.

Question 8

cohesion

Answer 8

A property of water molecules that creates an attraction between them
which causes them to stick together.

Question 9

collagen

Answer 9

A type of fibrous protein that provides strength to many different cell types and
makes up connective tissues

Question 10

condensation reaction

Answer 10

A type of reaction that joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond involving the elimination of a molecule of water.

Question 11

conjugated protein

Answer 11

A protein with a prosthetic group bound to it

Question 12

elastin

Answer 12

A type of fibrous protein that allows tissues and structures like blood vessels to
stretch and return to their original shape.

Question 12

elastin

Answer 12

A type of fibrous protein that allows tissues and structures like blood vessels to
stretch and return to their original shape.

Question 13

fibrous protein

Answer 13

A class of long chain proteins that are generally insoluble in water and
typically have structural roles.

Question 14

globular protein

Answer 14

A class of spherical shaped proteins that are generally water soluble and typically have metabolic roles.

Question 15

glucose

Answer 15

A hexose monosaccharide that is the main respiratory substrate in eukaryotes.

Question 16

glycogen

Answer 16

A highly branched polysaccharide that is used as the main energy storage molecule in animals and is made up of alpha glucose monomers joined by α-1,4 glycosidic bonds.

Question 17

haemoglobin

Answer 17

A type of conjugated globular protein used to transport oxygen that is made
up of four polypeptide chains each containing a haem prosthetic group.

Question 18

hexose monosaccharide

Answer 18

A simple sugar that contains 6 carbon atoms

Question 19

hydrogen bond

Answer 19

A type of weak bond formed between an electropositive hydrogen and an electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen.

Question 19

hydrogen bond

Answer 19

A type of weak bond formed between an electropositive hydrogen and an electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen.

Question 20

hydrolysis

Answer 20

Breaking a chemical bond between two molecules involving the use of a water
molecule.

Question 21

insulin

Answer 21

A globular protein hormone that is made in the pancreas in response to detection of
high glucose levels in the blood.

Question 22

iodine test

Answer 22

A biochemical test that produces a blue/black colour when it is added to a solution containing starch.

Question 23

keratin

Answer 23

A type of fibrous protein that provides strength to hair and nails.

Question 24

lactose

Answer 24

A disaccharide made of a molecule of glucose and galactose joined by a glycosidic bond.

Question 25

lipid emulsion test

Answer 25

A biochemical test that produces a cloudy emulsion when performed on lipids.

Question 26

maltose

Answer 26

A disaccharide made of two molecules of glucose joined by a glycosidic bond.

Question 26

maltose

Answer 26

A disaccharide made of two molecules of glucose joined by a glycosidic bond.

Question 27

monomer

Answer 27

An individual unit that can be bonded to other identical monomers to make a polymer.

Question 28

pentose monosaccharide

Answer 28

A simple sugar that contains 5 carbon atoms.

Question 29

pentose monosaccharide

Answer 29

A simple sugar that contains 5 carbon atoms.

Question 30

phospholipid

Answer 30

A type of amphipathic lipid made from a molecule of glycerol bonded to two fatty acid molecules and a phosphate group.

Question 31

polymer

Answer 31

A molecule made from many repeating monomers joined together.

Question 32

primary structure

Answer 32

The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Question 33

quaternary structure

Answer 33

A structure only applicable to proteins with multiple polypeptide chains that describes the interactions of the different chains.

Question 34

ribose

Answer 34

A pentose monosaccharide which composes the backbone of RNA.

Question 35

secondary structure

Answer 35

The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain.

Question 36

secondary structure

Answer 36

The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain.

Question 37

starch

Answer 37

A polysaccharide used for energy storage in plants that is made up of alpha glucose joined together in the forms of amylose and amylopectin.

Question 38

sucrose

Answer 38

A disaccharide made of a molecule of glucose and fructose joined by a glycosidic bond.

Question 39

tertiary structure

Answer 39

The way that the whole protein folds to make a three dimensional structure.

Question 40

triglyceride

Answer 40

A type of lipid formed from a molecule of glycerol joined by ester bonds to three fatty acid molecules.