General Biology Terminology Flashcards
What are the four main classes of large biological molecules found in organisms?
Proteins, Nucleic acids (DNA/RNA), Carbohydrates and Lipids
What is a polymer?
A polymer is a large molecule consisting of (made from) a chain of many identical or similar molecular units strung together.
What is a monomer?
Individual building blocks or units that make up polymers
“Units that serve as building of polymers”
What is the relationship between monomers and polymers
Polymers is a like a chain, while the links within the chain are the monomers.
What marcomolecules comprises of polymers
Proteins, Nucleic acids, and Carbohydrates
How are biological polymers formed
The synthesis method
They are formed via dehydration synthesis or condensation reaction
Water is formed as a product between the OH and H leaving groups.
One monomer gives up a hydrogen atom, the other monomer gives up a hydroxl (OH) group
This synthesis has what kind of bond?
A covalent bond
How are biological molecules dissassembled
They are dissassembled via hydrolysis
Water is added to break the bond.
H2O splits the polymer into monomers that has their OH and H group back
