Unit 2: The Nature Of Life Flashcards
Active site
Location on an enzyme where substance(s) bind
Activation energy
The minimum amount of energy required to start a chemical reaction
Amino acid
One of the 20 types of molecules that combine to form proteins
Anabolic reactions
Reactions that build larger molecules using smaller ones, also called endothermic reactions because they require heat
Carbohydrates
One of four organic compounds in living cells and an important source of nutritional energy
What do carbohydrates include?
Simple sugars, and more complex sugars such as starch sugars or many sugars; carbohydrates can also serve as a structural molecule
Catabolic reactions
Reactions that break down molecules into smaller units and release energy, also called exothermic reactions
Catalyst
A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the amount of energy needed for the reaction to occur, but it is not changed by the reaction
Denatured
When an enzyme loses its shape and can no longer function
Disaccharide
A molecule formed when two monosaccharides bond together
Examples: sucrose, lactose, maltose
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid; a molecule found in cells that Carrie’s genetic information to be passed from parents to offspring
Endothermic reaction
A chemical reaction that absorbs heat
Enzymes
Proteins that speed up (catalyze) specific chemical reactions in organisms by lowering the energy of the reaction
Exothermic reaction
A chemical reaction that produces heat
Glucose
A carbohydrate; a monosaccharide; produced by photosynthesis; primary source of energy for sims plant and animal cells
Hydrophilic
“Water loving”, refers to substances that can be dissolved by water or mixed with water
Hydrophobic
“Water fearing”, refers to substances that cannot be dissolved or mixed with water
Isomer
Compounds with identical molecular formulas that have different chemical structures
Lipids
A group of organic compounds that are not soluble in water, but can be dissolved by other non polar solvents
Macromolecule
A very large group of chemically bonded atoms
Metabolism
Using matter to carry out life process
Monomer
Building block of a polymer
Monosaccharide
Simple sugar, most basic unit of carbohydrates
Example: glucose
Non polar molecule
A molecule where electrical charges are equally distributed across the molecule; does not have positive and negative poles
Nucleic acid
A complex organic substance present in all living things composed of sugar, a base compound, and a phosphate group; includes both DNA and RNA
Nucleotide
Building block of nucleic acids, consists of a phosphate group, pentose sugar, nitrogenous base
Organic molecule
A molecule found in or produced by living systems which contain carbon
Phospholipid
A lipid containing a phosphate group; component of the cell membrane
Polymer
A large molecule that is made of small molecules that are arranged in a repeating structure
Polypeptide
A chain of amino acid molecules, such as a protein
Polysaccharide
A large carbohydrate made of smaller sugars bonded together
Examples: cellulose, starch
Product
The substances that are formed during a chemical reaction; in a chemical reaction the arrow point toward the product
Protein
An organic molecule composed primarily of amino acids joined by peptide bonds in one or more chains; proteins function as enzymes, signaling molecules l, structural molecules, and a source of energy, among other functions
Reactant
The substances present before a chemical reaction occurs; in a chemical reaction the arrow usually point me away from the reactant(s)
RNA
Ribonucleic acid (RNA): one of the macromolecules that determines protein synthesis in the cell
Saturated fatty acid
A form of fatty acid with only single bonds between carbon atoms
Simple sugar
Type of carbohydrate; also called monosaccharide; building blocks of polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates)
Steroids
Organic compounds typically with a four-carbon ring structure; in the human body - substances that occur naturally and function in processes such as fighting stress or promoting growth and development (hormones)
Substrate
A substance involved in a chemical reaction; binds to an enzyme at the active site
Tryglyceride
An energy-rush compound made up of a single molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid, and serves as a major component of animal and plant oils and fats
Unsaturated fatty acid
A fat that contains one or more carbon-carbon double bonds
Archea
Domain containing organisms with prokaryotic cells that are extremophiles (live in extreme environments that other organisms find uninhabitable)
