Key Vocab - 15. Chemistry of Life

Nucleic acid

• A type of protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions.

• A macromolecule made up of nucleotide monomers; stores and transmits genetic information (e.g., DNA and RNA).

• A carbohydrate that provides energy to cells.

• A lipid that forms the cell membrane.

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Monomer

• A large molecule made of many subunits.

• A small molecule (subunit) that can bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer.

• A type of chemical reaction that breaks down polymers.

• A molecule that cannot bond with other molecules.

Monosaccharide

• The simplest form of carbohydrate, such as glucose or fructose; serves as a quick energy source.

• A complex carbohydrate made of multiple sugar units.

• A type of lipid that stores energy in the body.

• A protein that helps in muscle building.

Amino acid

• The basic unit of carbohydrates; made up of sugar molecules.

• The building block (monomer) of proteins; contains a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen atom, and an R group.

• A type of lipid that is insoluble in water and used for energy storage.

• A nucleic acid that carries genetic information in cells.

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Macromolecule

• A small, simple molecule essential for life

• A large, complex molecule made up of smaller subunits, essential for life

• A type of carbohydrate that provides energy

• A protein that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions

Carbohydrate

• A macromolecule made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1, provides quick energy / short-term energy storage and structural support in organisms.

• A type of protein that serves as an enzyme in metabolic reactions.

• A lipid that is primarily used for long-term energy storage in the body.

• A nucleic acid that carries genetic information in cells.

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Starch

• A type of protein found in animal tissues.

• A polysaccharide carbohydrate made of many glucose units joined together; used by plants to store energy.

• A simple sugar that provides quick energy.

• A lipid used for long-term energy storage in animals.

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Nucleotides

• The building blocks of proteins; made of amino acids.

• The monomer of nucleic acids; consists of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group.

• The basic unit of carbohydrates; composed of sugar molecules.

• The structural units of lipids; made of fatty acids and glycerol.

Polymer

• A short molecule made of a single type of atom.

• A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical building blocks (monomers) linked together by covalent bonds.

• A type of protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions.

• A small molecule that cannot be broken down into simpler substances.

Fatty acid

• A type of carbohydrate that provides energy

• One of the monomers of lipid, a hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end; a building block of many lipids.

• A protein that helps in muscle building

• A vitamin that is essential for vision