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Glossary
Clear, illustrated definitions of the key terms from Chemistry of Life — search or browse 50 entries. Free, no sign-up.
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Core concepts
- DNAThe molecule of heredity
- RNASingle-stranded nucleic acid
- ProteinsFunctional workhorses of the cell
- LipidsHydrophobic biological molecules
- CarbohydratesSugars, starches, and structural fibers
- AtomBasic unit of a chemical element
- IsotopeVersion of an element with different neutron number
- Covalent BondStrong bond formed by sharing electrons
- Ionic BondAttraction between charged ions
- Hydrogen BondWeak attraction involving partial charges
- PolarityUneven distribution of electric charge
- Hydrophilic / HydrophobicWater-attracting vs water-avoiding
- WaterUniversal biological solvent
- Acid / BaseAcids release protons; bases accept protons
- pHMeasure of proton concentration
- BufferSystem that resists pH change
- Functional GroupReactive part of a molecule
- Amino AcidMonomer of proteins
- Peptide BondCovalent bond linking amino acids
- NucleotideBuilding block of DNA and RNA
- Phosphodiester BondCovalent linkage in nucleic acid backbones
- MonosaccharideSingle sugar unit
- PolysaccharidePolymer of sugar units
- Fatty AcidLong hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group
- PhospholipidAmphipathic membrane lipid
Nucleobases
Amino acids
- Alanine (Ala, A)Chain: nonpolar
- Arginine (Arg, R)Chain: charged (+)
- Asparagine (Asn, N)Chain: polar
- Aspartic Acid (Asp, D)Chain: charged (-)
- Cysteine (Cys, C)Chain: special case
- Glutamic Acid (Glu, E)Chain: charged (-)
- Glutamine (Gln, Q)Chain: polar
- Glycine (Gly, G)Chain: special case
- Histidine (His, H)Chain: charged (+)
- Isoleucine (Ile, I)Chain: nonpolar
- Leucine (Leu, L)Chain: nonpolar
- Lysine (Lys, K)Chain: charged (+)
- Methionine (Met, M)Chain: nonpolar
- Phenylalanine (Phe, F)Chain: nonpolar
- Proline (Pro, P)Chain: special case
- Serine (Ser, S)Chain: polar
- Threonine (Thr, T)Chain: polar
- Tryptophan (Trp, W)Chain: nonpolar
- Tyrosine (Tyr, Y)Chain: polar
- Valine (Val, V)Chain: nonpolar
- Stop CodonTermination signal
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