9781422280485

Chapter 1

Chemistry and Classification

W ords to U nderstand amino acid: an organic molecule that is the building block of proteins. collagen: a fibrous protein that makes up much of the body’s connective tissues. enzyme: a protein that starts or accelerates an action or process within the body. legumes: the fruits or seeds of plants with pods, including beans, lentils, and peas. macromolecule: a large molecule, or group of atoms bonded together, with a weight greater than a normal molecule. monomer: a molecule that can link with other identical or similar molecules to make a polymer. peptide bond: the chemical bond linking amino acids. polymer: a macromolecule made up of many identical or similar units, called monomers, linked together. polypeptide: a series of amino acids linked together in a chain. E verybody knows that protein exists, but a lot of people don’t understand what it actually does . We’re told that it’s found in beef, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products like cheese, as well as vegetable sources like legumes

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