Biological Molecules: Key Terms (AQA AS Biology): Revision Note

Biological molecules: key terms

• There is a great variety of life within and between organisms, but the biochemical basis of life is similar for all living things

• The key molecules that are required to build structures that enable organisms to function are:

  • carbohydrates

  • proteins

  • lipids

  • nucleic Acids

  • water

• Monomers are the smaller units from which larger molecules are made

• Polymers are molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together in a chain during a process called polymerisation

• Organic compounds include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids as they all contain the elements carbon (C) and hydrogen (H)

• Macromolecules are very large molecules

  • They contain 1000 or more atoms, therefore having a high molecular mass

  • Polymers can be macromolecules, however, not all macromolecules are polymers, as the subunits of polymers have to be the same repeating units