Unit Flashcards
What are the two types of carbohydrates?
Simple Carbohydrates and Complex Carbohydrates
Simple carbohydrates include sugars, while complex carbohydrates include starch and cellulose.
What is the role of sugar in the body?
Provides a quick burst of energy or a ‘sugar rush’
Sugar breaks down quickly in the body.
What is glucose?
The most important and simplest sugar on Earth
Glucose is used in cells and created by photosynthesis.
What are starches?
Long chains of simpler sugars joined together
Starches are macromolecules also known as polysaccharides or polymers.
How do carbohydrates contribute to biological systems?
They are the most abundant organic compounds in nature
Carbohydrates make up 50% of the earth’s biomass.
What are the four chemical groupings of carbohydrates?
- Monosaccharides
- Disaccharides
- Oligosaccharides
- Polysaccharides
What are some examples of starch?
- Potatoes
- Wheat
- Corn
What are the main functions of lipids?
- Store energy
- Insulation
- Shock absorption
- Structural components of membranes
What are phospholipids?
The primary structural component of all cellular membranes
They serve as an important structural component in membranes.
What are the four classes of large biological molecules?
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic Acids
What is a polymer?
A long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks
Polymers are built from monomers.
What is dehydration synthesis?
A reaction where two monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule
This process creates polymers.
What is hydrolysis?
A reaction that disassembles polymers to monomers
It is essentially the reverse of the dehydration reaction.
What are biomolecules?
Organic compounds made by living things
Also called biochemicals, they include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
What is the energy storage capacity of lipids?
Approximately 36 kJ/gram
Lipids are concentrated sources of energy.
What is a saturated fat?
Fats with no double bonds between carbon atoms
They are usually solid at room temperature and considered unhealthy.
What are disaccharides?
Composed of two molecules of simple sugar bonded together
Examples include lactose, sucrose, and maltose.
What are oligosaccharides?
Made up of anywhere from two to ten monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds
Found naturally in plants.
What are unsaturated fats?
Fats with some carbon atoms that are double bonded
They are usually liquid at room temperature and considered healthier.
What is the structure of lipids?
Composed of glycerol and fatty acids
Most lipids have a glycerol backbone with attached fatty acids.
What are triglycerides?
A type of lipid composed of one glycerol and three fatty acids
What are steroid hormones?
- Progesterone
- Aldosterone
- Testosterone
- Estradiol
- Cortisol
What are homopolysaccharides?
Polysaccharides made up of similar types of monosaccharide units
Examples include starch and glycogen.
What are heteropolysaccharides?
Polysaccharides made up of different types of monosaccharide units
Examples include mucopolysaccharides.
