Biomolecules Cheat Sheet

Key Definitions

• Biomolecules: Organic molecules essential for life (e.g., carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids) ✅

• Carbohydrates: Sugars and starches, primary energy source ✅

• Proteins: Chains of amino acids, crucial for structure and function ✅

• Lipids: Fats and oils, energy storage and membrane structure ✅

• Nucleic Acids: DNA and RNA, genetic information carriers ✅

Important Concepts

Carbohydrates

• Monosaccharides: Simple sugars (e.g., glucose) ✅

• Disaccharides: Two monosaccharides (e.g., sucrose) ✅

• Polysaccharides: Long chains (e.g., starch, glycogen) ✅

Proteins

• Amino Acids: Building blocks of proteins, 20 types ✅

• Peptide Bonds: Link amino acids together ✅

• Protein Structure: Primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary levels ✅

Lipids

• Fatty Acids: Saturated (single bonds) vs. unsaturated (double bonds) ✅

• Phospholipids: Major component of cell membranes ✅

Nucleic Acids

• DNA Structure: Double helix, composed of nucleotides ✅

• RNA Types: mRNA, tRNA, rRNA - roles in protein synthesis ✅

Key Formulas

• Carbohydrate Formula: C_n(H2O)_n ✅

• Protein Synthesis: DNA → mRNA → Protein ✅

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common Mistake: Confusing DNA (double-stranded) with RNA (single-stranded) ✅

Memory Tricks

Tip: "CHNOPS" — Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Sulfur (elements in biomolecules) ✅

Key Diagrams

   Carbohydrate Structure
        O
       / \
      C   C
     /     \
    H       OH

   Protein Structure
     O       O
      \\     //
       C -- C
      /     \
     R       R'

   DNA Structure
   A---T
   |   |
   C---G