Chapter 3 : Molecules of the Cell Vocab

Question 1

Amine

Answer 1

An organic compound with one or more amino groups

Question 2

Amino acid

Answer 2

An organic molecule containing a carboxyl group and an amino group; serves as the monomer of proteins

Question 3

Carbon skeleton

Answer 3

A chain of carbon atoms that forms the structural backbone of an organic molecule

Question 4

Cellulose

Answer 4

A large polysaccharide composed of many glucose monomers linked into cable-like fibrils that provide structural support in plant cell walls

Question 5

Chitin

Answer 5

A structural polysaccharide found in many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of anthropods

Question 6

Cholesterol

Answer 6

A steroid that is an important component of animal cell membranes and that acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other steroids such as hormones

Question 7

Dehydration reaction

Answer 7

A chemical process un which two molecules become covalently bonded to each other with the removal of a water molecule.
AKA condensation

Question 8

Denaturation

Answer 8

A process in which a protein unravels, losing its specific structure and hence function; can be caused by in pH or salt concentration or by high temperature.

Question 9

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Answer 9

A double-stranded helical nucleic acid molecule consisting of nucleotide monomers with deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.

Question 10

Disaccharide

Answer 10

A sugar molecule consisting of two monosaccharides linked by a dehydration reaction

Question 11

Double helix

Answer 11

The form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent polynucleotide strands wound into a spiral shape

Question 12

Enzyme

Answer 12

A protein (or RNA molecule) that serves as a a biological catalyst, changing the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed into a different molecule in the process

Question 13

Fat

Answer 13

Functions mainly as energy-storage molecules but can also be part of the cell membrane. Monomer unit consists of fatty acids and polymer units consist of triglycerides.
AKA lipids

Question 14

Functional groups

Answer 14

An assemblage of atoms commonly attached to the carbon skeletons of organic molecules and usually involved in chemical reactions

Question 15

Glycogen

Answer 15

An extensively branched polysaccharide of many glucose monomers; serves as an energy-storage molecule in liver and muscle cells; the animal equivalent of starch