polymer
What polymer means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of polymer
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain polymer in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
A long chain of sugar units, such as starch, cellulose or glycogen, built from glucose monomers.
A large molecule made of many repeating monomer units, and DNA is categorised as one.
A large molecule built from many repeating smaller units joined together.
Topics that use polymer
- DNA structure (biology only) (AQA GCSE)
- Respiration (OCR GCSE)
- What happens in cells (and what do cells need)? (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Amino acid sequence
- Complementary base pairing
- double helix
- protein folding
- protein synthesis
- ribosomes
- sugar-phosphate backbone
- transcription
Using polymer in the exam
Check the command word and mark scheme for your exact question. After comparing your explanation with the reference, use the term in an answer on the linked topic. This practice does not predict an exam mark.
Practise Biology questions
Create a free account to answer exam-style questions on this topic and get feedback on your answers.
A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge