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75 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
A substance that contributes hydrogen ions (protons) to a solution.
acid
The monomer subunit of a protein. Contains a central carbon whose four bonds are to an amine group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom and a unique side group known as the R group.
amino acid
Certain substances, including some vitamins, that protect the body from the damaging effect of free radicals (atoms with unpaired electrons). Free radicals are necessary for life but can cause undesirable cell damage.
antioxidant
Feature of the DNA double helix such that the two strands run in opposite directions, with the nucleotides “facing up” on one side of the helix and “facing down” on the other side.
antiparallel
The smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of a particular element.
atom
The dense central core of of an atom, consisting of protons and neutrons. Overall carries a positive electrical charge due to the protons.
atomic nucleus
The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. It is unique to each element.
atomic number
A substance that reduces the concentration of hydrogen ions (protons) in a solution. It may take up hydrogen ions or it may contribute hydroxyl ions which bind with the hydrogen ions to form water.
base
A substance in a solution that resists changes in pH.
buffer
An energy-rich molecule that is a major source of energy to cells. It consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio of CH2O.
carbohydrate
A process by which one or more chemical substances (compounds and/or molecules) is transformed into one or more different chemical substances. Involves the making and breaking of chemical bonds.
chemical reaction
The tendency for molecules to stick together.
cohesion
A substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio.
compound
A type of strong chemical bond in which two atoms share electrons.
covalent bond
A class of enzyme-driven chemical reaction in which monomers are joined together to make polymers by removing a hydrogen from one monomer and a hydroxyl group from the other, forming water as a by-product.
dehydration synthesis
The molecule of inheritance for all cells and many viruses. Consists of two nucleotide strands twisted together and held together by hydrogen bonds. The nucleotide sequence encodes the instructions for assembling proteins.
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A chemical compound that ionizes in solution and allows the solution to behave as an electrically conductive medium. In physiology, this is a synonym for salt (not necessarily NaCl).
electrolyte
A negatively charged subatomic particle with negligible mass.
electron
An energy level representing the distance of an electron from the nucleus of an atom.
electron shell
The ability of an atom to attract electrons to itself when covalently bonded to another atom which is relatively less able to attract the electrons.
electronegative
Any substance that cannot be decomposed into a different substance or substances with different properties. These are the fundamental forms of matter.
element
One of the eight amino acids (12 in infants and young children) that humans cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet.
essential amino acid
A fatty acid that humans cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet, such as omega-3 fatty acids.
essential fatty acid
A lipid molecule composed of a three-carbon glycerol backbone bonded to three fatty acids; a triglyceride.
fat
A lipid consisting of a long chain of hydrocarbons bonded to a carboxyl group on one end.
fatty acid
A cholesterol-carrying particle in the blood that is high in protein and low in cholesterol; so called “good” cholesterol.
high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
A physiological state in which the physical and chemical conditions of the internal environment are maintained within tolerable ranges. Maintenance of a reasonably constant or steady-state internal environment.
homeostasis
A type of weak chemical bond in which a hydrogen atom of one molecule is attracted to an electronegative atom of another molecule, usually either an oxygen (O) or nitrogen (N) covalently bonded to another hydrogen.
hydrogen bond
A class of enzyme-driven chemical reaction in which a covalent bond is broken, splitting a molecule into two or more parts with the consumption of a molecule of water. The water splits, and its hydrogen ion attaches to one of the resultant molecules while the hydroxyl ion attaches to the other.
hydrolysis
Readily dissolving in water. Literally means “water loving.”
hydrophilic
Not able to dissolved in water. Literally means “water fearing.”
hydrophobic
An electrically charged atom, having either gained or lost an electron in order to end with a full outer electron shell.
ion
A chemical bond resulting from the attraction of oppositely charged ions.
ionic bond
A version of a chemical element containing the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in the nucleus.
isotope
Hydrophobic cellular constituents including fats, phospholipids, steroids, and eicosanoids.
lipid
A cholesterol-carrying particle in the blood that is low in protein and high in cholesterol; so called “bad” cholesterol.
low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
Literally a “large molecule”, refers to a polymer such as a polysaccharide, protein, or nucleic acid, composed of monomers joined by dehydration synthesis.
macromolecule
The sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
mass number
Nutrients needed in small quantities, such as vitamins and minerals.
micronutrient
An inorganic element that in nature has a crystalline structure. Biologically, some are necessary as micronutrients.
mineral
Two or more atoms held together by covalent bonds.
molecule
An individual subunit of a polymer or macromolecule.
monomer
A subatomic particle with no electrical charge. Has mass and resides in the nucleus of an atom.
neutron
The general term for the compounds adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine and uracil, which attach to the sugar-phosphate backbone of nucleic acids.
nitrogenous base
A covalent bond in which the electrons are evenly shared by the atoms which are bonded together. Generally molecules of this type are hydrophobic (unable to dissolve in water).
nonpolar
A polymer or macromolecule consisting of nucleotides joined together. Examples are DNA and RNA.
nucleic acid
One of the building blocks or monomers that make up nucleic acids . One of a class of molecules whose structure includes a sugar, a nitrogenous base, and one or more phosphate groups.
nucleotide
The chemistry of compounds containing carbon. Its name is derived from the original definition of chemical substances produced by living organisms.
organic chemistry
The covalent bond between two amino acids in a polypeptide or protein. Joins the amino group of one amino acid with the carboxyl group of another in a dehydration synthesis reaction.
peptide bond
A measure of the hydrogen ion (proton) concentration in a solution, which is a measure of the acidity of the solution. Ranges from 0 (high proton concentration, acidic) to 14 (low proton concentration, basic) with 7 defined as neutral.
pH scale
A lipid consisting of a three carbon glycerol backbone, attached to two hydrophobic fatty acids, and a hydrophilic phosphate-containing group. Major component of biological membranes.
phospholipid
A covalent bond in which the electrons are unevenly shared by the atoms which are bonded together. This creates a dipole of weak electrical charges on the surface of the molecule. Generally molecules of this type are hydrophilic (able to dissolve in water).
polar
A general term for the macromolecule formed by joining monomers together.
polymer
A carbohydrate formed of three or more monosaccharide (simple sugar) monomers.
polysaccharide
The level of protein structure characterized by the linear amino acid sequence unique to that protein.
primary structure
A polymer or macromolecule consisting of amino acids joined together by peptide bonds.
protein
A subatomic particle with a positive electrical charge. Has mass and resides in the nucleus of an atom.
proton
The level of protein structure characterized by two or more separate polypeptides binding to form a functional protein.
quaternary structure
An isotope of an element that has an unstable nucleus and which emits radiation as it decays.
radioactive isotope
Any starting material in a chemical reaction. A raw material for a reaction, or a substrate for an enzyme-driven reaction.
reactant
The modified chemical(s) that are the result of a chemical reaction, including enzyme-driven reactions.
reaction product
A single stranded polymer of nucleotides with several functions in the cell: constituent of ribosomes, transport of individual amino acids to ribosomes, and messenger carrying genetic information from the nucleus to the cytoplasm.
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Charged substances that ionize in solution. Formed along with water when an acid and a base are mixed together. In physiological solutions, these are called electrolytes.
salt
A fat whose fatty acids contain a large proportion of hydrogen ions and few double bonds between carbons. Typically solid at room temperature. An example is beef fat.
saturated fat
The level of protein structure characterized by alpha-helices or beta pleated sheets maintained by hydrogen bonding.
secondary structure
The substance that is dissolved into a solution.
solute
The mixture of a solvent and a solute. Typically in biology the solvent is water, with one or more hydrophilic substances dissolved into it.
solution
A substance, such as water, into which a solute is dissolved to make a solution.
solvent
A type of lipid derived from and including cholesterol whose structure consists of 4 fused rings containing 17 carbon atoms. This class includes the fat-soluble hormones cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen and cortisol.
steroid
The part of the structure of a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) consisting of a series of alternating ribose or deoxyribose sugars separated by phosphate groups.
sugar-phosphate backbone
The level of protein structure characterized by stable chemical interactions between side groups (R groups) of the amino acids making up the protein.
tertiary structure
A type of fat in which unsaturated fats have had hydrogen added artificially or by industrial processes, resulting in some C=C double bonds in the unnatural trans configuration rather than the natural cis configuration. Allows unsaturated fats to be solid at room temperature rather than liquid.
trans fat
A fat whose fatty acids contain a fewer hydrogen ions and one to many double bonds between carbons. Typically liquid at room temperature. An example is olive oil.
unsaturated fat
The outermost electron energy shell of an atom. The electrons in this shell, if it is not full, tend to be involved in the chemical reactions of the atom.
valence shell
A necessary organic micronutrient that often functions as a coenzyme in biological reactions.
vitamin