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Molecule

Definition

noun, plural: molecules

A tiny or a very small piece (of something).

(biology or biochemistry) An extremely small particle or substance, especially at cellular or structural level, as a biomolecule.

(physics and chemistry) The smallest unit of an element or compound, made up of two or more atoms held together by strong chemical bond.


Supplement

In physics and chemistry, a molecule is an electrically neutral, group of atoms that can exist alone in free state while its characteristic properties are retained. The atoms comprising the molecule may be of the same kind (as in oxygen molecule made up of two oxygen atoms) or of different kinds (such as water molecule made up of oxygen and hydrogen).

In biology, particularly in biochemistry, a molecule is used less strictly that it can also refer to any minute particle such as charged organic molecules or to substances (called biomolecules) produced and occur naturally in living organisms such as proteins, carbohydrates, DNA, etc.


Word origin: French molécule, from New Latin mōlēcula, diminutive of Latin mōlēs, mass.
Related forms: molecular (adjective)

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Results from our forum


Re: Structure of Chromosomes

Canalon, we are definitely on the same page with your characterization of a molecule. In this instance I would say that it is the totality of all bonded atoms of the double helix that make DNA a single molecule.

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by bobc2
Sat Sep 05, 2009 3:16 am
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Structure of Chromosomes
Replies: 4
Views: 26

Re: what is gametes in DNA?

... the DNA would be defective? Do both gamete mates necessarily have the same number of genes? And the same number of nucleotides in the DNA molecule? No. To all questions.

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by canalon
Sat Sep 05, 2009 2:03 am
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: what is gametes in DNA?
Replies: 3
Views: 45

Re: what is gametes in DNA?

... the DNA would be defective? Do both gamete mates necessarily have the same number of genes? And the same number of nucleotides in the DNA molecule?

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by bobc2
Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:44 pm
 
Forum: Genetics
Topic: what is gametes in DNA?
Replies: 3
Views: 45

Re: Structure of Chromosomes

Thank you very much, Canalon. However, I do question your notion that DNA should be counted as two molecules. The joining by hydrogen bonds qualifies the structure as a single molecule. By that reasoning you would always be looking at the vast number of single complex molecules ...

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by bobc2
Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:30 pm
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Structure of Chromosomes
Replies: 4
Views: 26

Structure of Chromosomes

Does each chromosome in a human cell contain one complete DNA molecule, so that there are 46 separate DNA molecules, one for each chromosome? Or does a single DNA molecule continue as an extended filament, running in and out of one chromosome, then proceeding ...

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by bobc2
Fri Sep 04, 2009 5:17 pm
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Structure of Chromosomes
Replies: 4
Views: 26
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