Definitions and Concepts for AQA Biology A-Level
Topic 1 - Biological Molecules
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP): A molecule that acts as the energy currency of cells formed
from a molecule of ribose, a molecule of adenine and three phosphate groups.
Amino acid: The monomers containing an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and
a variable R group that make up proteins.
Benedict’s test: A biochemical test used to test for reducing sugars that produces a different
colour based on the amount of reducing sugar present.
Biuret test: A biochemical test that produces a purple solution in the presence of protein.
Cellulose: A polysaccharide made of beta glucose monomers that is used as a structural
polysaccharide which provides strength to plant cell walls.
Condensation reaction: A type of reaction that joins two molecules together with the
formation of a chemical bond involving the elimination of a molecule of water.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA): An information storing molecule made up of
deoxyribonucleotide monomers joined by phosphodiester bonds to form a double helix.
Dipeptide: Molecules formed by the condensation of two amino acids.
Disaccharide: Molecules formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides.
DNA helicase: An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands in
the DNA molecule that is going to be replicated.
DNA polymerase: An enzyme that catalyses the condensation reactions between the new
nucleotides in the synthesis of the new DNA strand.
Enzyme: A protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst and increases the rate of
biochemical reactions.
Glycogen: A highly branched polysaccharide made of alpha glucose monomers that is used
as the main storage of energy in humans and animals.
Glycosidic bond: A bond between two monosaccharides formed in a condensation reaction.
Heat capacity: The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by a
specific amount.
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Hydrolysis: Breaking a chemical bond between two molecules involving the use of a water
molecule.
Induced-fit model: A model of enzyme action that describes how enzymes undergo subtle
conformational changes to better fit the substrate.
Iodine test: A biochemical test used to test for the presence of starch.
Lactose: A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a galactose
molecule.
Latent heat: The amount of energy needed for a substance to change state.
Lipid emulsion test: A biochemical test that produces a cloudy emulsion when performed
on lipids.
Maltose: A disaccharide formed by condensation of two glucose molecules.
Metabolite: A molecule formed or used in metabolic reactions.
Monomers: The smaller units from which larger molecules are made
Monosaccharide: The individual sugar monomers from which larger carbohydrates are
made.
Phospholipid: A type of lipid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol, two
molecules of fatty acid and a phosphate group.
Polymers: Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together.
Polypeptide: Molecules formed by the condensation of many amino acids.
Polysaccharide: Molecules formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides.
Primary structure: The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein.
Quaternary structure: A structure only applicable to proteins with multiple polypeptide
chains that describes the interactions of the different chains.
Ribonucleic acid (RNA): A relatively short molecule made up of ribonucleotide monomers
joined by phosphodiester bonds.
Secondary structure: The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain.
Semi conservative replication: The production of two daughter DNA molecules from one
DNA molecule which both contain one original DNA strand and one newly synthesised
strand.
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Solvent: A substance which other solutes are dissolved in.
Starch: A polysaccharide made of alpha glucose monomers that is used as the main storage
of energy in plants.
Sucrose: A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose
molecule.
Tertiary structure: The way that the whole protein folds to make a three dimensional
structure.
Triglyceride: A type of lipid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol and
three molecules of fatty acid.
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