IB Biology Topic B1.1: Carbohydrates and Lipids Key Definitions

Amphipathic: A molecule that has both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) regions.

Condensation is a reaction where two molecules combine, releasing water.

The process by which the plasma membrane pinches inward to form a vesicle that brings external materials into the cell.

Functional groups are clusters of atoms that dictate a molecule’s properties and reactivity.

Germination is the process by which a seed transitions from dormancy to active growth, developing into a seedling.

A protein with carbohydrate chains attached, which are involved in cell recognition, signalling, and adhesion.

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water ($H_2O$) breaks down a compound.

A nitrogen-containing organic molecule that participates in hydrogen bonding and carries coding information in nucleotides.

A peptide bond is a covalent bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

A phosphodiester bond is a covalent bond formed between nucleotides in a nucleic acid chain via condensation.