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 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

Anions

Answer 5

An ion with a negative charge.

Question 6

Benedict’s test

Answer 6

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 7

Cations

Answer 7

An ion with a positive charge.

Question 8

Cellulose

Answer 8

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 9

Chromatography

Answer 9

A technique used to separate different molecules in a solution by their different properties.

Question 10

Cohesion

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Collagen

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Condensation reaction

Answer 12

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 13

Conjugated protein

Answer 13

A protein with a prosthetic group bound to it.

Question 14

Elastin

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Fibrous protein

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Globular protein

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Glucose

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Glycogen

Answer 18

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 19

Haemoglobin

Answer 19

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 20

Hexose monosaccharide

Answer 20

A simple sugar that contains 6 carbon atoms.

Question 21

Hydrogen bond

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Hydrolysis

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Insulin

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Iodine test

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Keratin

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Lactose

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Lipid emulsion test

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Maltose

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Monomer

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Monomers

Answer 30

The smaller units from which larger molecules are made.

Question 31

Pentose monosaccharide

Answer 31

A simple sugar that contains 5 carbon atoms.

Question 32

Phospholipid

Answer 32

A type of amphipathic (a chemical compound having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions) lipid made from a molecule of glycerol bonded to two fatty acid molecules and a phosphate group.

Question 33

Polymer

Answer 33

A molecule made from many repeating monomers joined together.

Question 34

Primary structure

Answer 34

The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Question 35

Quaternary structure

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Ribose

Answer 36

A pentose monosaccharide which composes the backbone of RNA.

Question 37

Saturated fatty acid

Answer 37

A type of fatty acid molecule containing only single bonds between the carbon atoms.

Question 38

Secondary structure

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Solvent

Answer 39

A liquid that solutes can dissolve to form a solution.

Question 40

Starch

Answer 40

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 41

Sucrose

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Tertiary structure

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Triglyceride

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Unsaturated fatty acid

Answer 44

A type of fatty acid molecule containing at least one double bond in the carbon chain.