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Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

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Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Addition Polymerisation

Polymerisation in which unsaturated monomers add to one another with no loss of any atoms.

n CH₂=CH₂ → –(CH₂–CH₂)ₙ– Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Adenosine Triphosphate

The nucleotide that acts as the universal energy currency of living cells.

ATP + H₂O → ADP + Pᵢ kJ/mol
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Amino Acid

An organic compound containing both an amino group and a carboxyl group attached to the same carbon.

H₂N–CHR–COOH Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Base Pairing

The specific hydrogen bonding between complementary nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids.

A–T (2 H-bonds), G–C (3 H-bonds) Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Biochemistry

The study of the chemical substances and processes that occur within living organisms.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Biodegradable Polymer

A polymer that can be broken down into simple substances by the action of microorganisms.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Biomolecule

An organic molecule produced by and essential to a living organism.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Carbohydrate

A biomolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, usually with hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio found in water.

Cₓ(H₂O)_y Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Cellular Respiration

The oxidation of nutrients within cells to release energy as ATP.

C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O kJ/mol
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Cellulose

The structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, a linear polymer of beta-linked glucose.

(C₆H₁₀O₅)ₙ Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Coenzyme

A small organic molecule that binds temporarily to an enzyme and is essential for its catalytic activity.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Cofactor

A non-protein chemical component required for an enzyme to function.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Condensation Polymerisation

Polymerisation in which monomers join with the elimination of a small molecule, usually water.

n A + n B → –(AB)ₙ– + n H₂O Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Copolymer

A polymer made from two or more different monomers.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Cross-Linking

The formation of covalent bonds between separate polymer chains.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Degree of Polymerisation

The number of monomer units in an average polymer chain.

DP = M_polymer / M_monomer Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Denaturation

The loss of a protein's native three-dimensional structure without breaking its peptide bonds.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate formed when two monosaccharide units join through a glycosidic bond.

C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁ Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

DNA

The double-stranded nucleic acid that carries the hereditary information of almost all living organisms.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Double Helix

The structure of DNA, in which two antiparallel polynucleotide strands wind around a common axis.

10.5 base pairs per turn nm
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Enzyme

A biological catalyst, almost always a protein, that accelerates a specific biochemical reaction.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Enzyme Specificity

The ability of an enzyme to select one substrate, or one class of substrate, and catalyse one particular reaction.

Dimensionless
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Fatty Acid

A long-chain carboxylic acid, usually with an even number of carbon atoms.

CH₃(CH₂)ₙCOOH g/mol
Biochemistry & Polymer Chemistry

Genetic Code

The set of rules by which sequences of three bases in nucleic acid specify particular amino acids.

64 codons → 20 amino acids Dimensionless