Campbell Biology in Focus--Chapter 3
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - ANSWER An adenine-containing nucleoside triphosphate
that releases free energy when its phosphate bonds are hydrolyzed. This energy is used to drive
endergonic reactions in cells
amino acids - ANSWER An organic molecule possessing both a carboxyl and an amino
group. Amino acids serve as the monomers of polypeptides
antiparallel - ANSWER The opposite arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbones in a
DNA double helix.
carbohydrates - ANSWER A sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimer (dissacharides) or
polymers (polysaccharides)
catalysts - ANSWER A chemical agent that selectively increases the rate of a reaction
without being consumed by the reaction
Cellulose - ANSWER A structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose
monomers joined by β glycosidic linkage
chitin - ANSWER A structural polysaccharide consisting of amino sugar monomers, found in
many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of all arthropods
cholesterol - ANSWER A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell
membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important
steroids, such as many hormones
dehydration reaction - ANSWER A chemical reaction in which two molecules become
covalently bonded to each other with the removal of a water molecule
denaturation - ANSWER In proteins, a process in which a protein unravels and loses its
native conformation, thereby becoming biologically inactive. In DNA, the separation of the two
strands of the double helix.
deoxyribonucleic acid - ANSWER A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double stranded helix, in
which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the
nitrogenous bases A T C G; capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of
cell's proteins.
deoxyribose - ANSWER A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides
Disaccharides - ANSWER A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by a
glycosidic linkage formed by a dehydration reaction
disulfide bridges - ANSWER Strong covalent bonds formed when the sulfur of one cysteine
monomer bonds to the sulfur of another cysteine monomer
double helix - ANSWER The form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent
polynucleotide strands wound into a spiral shape.
enzymes - ANSWER A macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases
the rate of a reaction without being consumed y the reaction. Most are proteins
adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - ANSWER An adenine-containing nucleoside triphosphate
that releases free energy when its phosphate bonds are hydrolyzed. This energy is used to drive
endergonic reactions in cells
amino acids - ANSWER An organic molecule possessing both a carboxyl and an amino
group. Amino acids serve as the monomers of polypeptides
antiparallel - ANSWER The opposite arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbones in a
DNA double helix.
carbohydrates - ANSWER A sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimer (dissacharides) or
polymers (polysaccharides)
catalysts - ANSWER A chemical agent that selectively increases the rate of a reaction
without being consumed by the reaction
Cellulose - ANSWER A structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose
monomers joined by β glycosidic linkage
chitin - ANSWER A structural polysaccharide consisting of amino sugar monomers, found in
many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of all arthropods
cholesterol - ANSWER A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell
membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important
steroids, such as many hormones
dehydration reaction - ANSWER A chemical reaction in which two molecules become
covalently bonded to each other with the removal of a water molecule
denaturation - ANSWER In proteins, a process in which a protein unravels and loses its
native conformation, thereby becoming biologically inactive. In DNA, the separation of the two
strands of the double helix.
deoxyribonucleic acid - ANSWER A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double stranded helix, in
which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the
nitrogenous bases A T C G; capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of
cell's proteins.
deoxyribose - ANSWER A five-carbon sugar that is a component of DNA nucleotides
Disaccharides - ANSWER A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by a
glycosidic linkage formed by a dehydration reaction
disulfide bridges - ANSWER Strong covalent bonds formed when the sulfur of one cysteine
monomer bonds to the sulfur of another cysteine monomer
double helix - ANSWER The form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent
polynucleotide strands wound into a spiral shape.
enzymes - ANSWER A macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases
the rate of a reaction without being consumed y the reaction. Most are proteins
