Biomolecules are chemical compounds naturally found in living things like carbohydrates,
proteins, lipids (fats), and nucleic acids (like DNA and RNA). Each one has a job, some give you
energy, others build your body, and some even carry your genetic code. Without them, life
just doesn’t happen.
Micromolecules are small, low molecular weight molecules typically composed of simple and
few atoms. They can enter and exit cells easily and often participate in basic life processes
like respiration, hydration, and mineral balance.
Macromolecules are very large molecules, typically composed of thousands of atoms, and are
built from smaller repeating units called monomers.
They perform a wide range of structural, functional, and information-storage roles in the
body.
Monosaccharides are single sugar molecules, the most basic form of carbohydrates. The term
"mono" means one, and "saccharide" means sugar. So, these are "one-sugar" units, not
bonded to any other sugar.
Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed when two monosaccharides chemically combine
through a dehydration synthesis reaction (also called a condensation reaction). In this
process, a molecule of water (H₂O) is removed as the two sugar monomers are joined by a
glycosidic bond.
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of many monosaccharides (usually glucose
units) linked together by glycosidic bonds. They are the macromolecular form of carbohydrates and
can contain hundreds to thousands of sugar units. They are created through repeated dehydration
synthesis reactions, where each bond formed removes a molecule of water. This polymerization makes
them large, complex, and usually insoluble in water — perfect for storage or structural functions.
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The most important role of carbohydrates in metabolism is to serve as the primary
source of energy, especially in the form of glucose. After glucose is absorbed into cells, it
enters the pathway called glycolysis.
When the body has more glucose than it currently needs for energy, it doesn't go to
waste. Glucose is stored in large, compact, insoluble forms
Carbohydrates also provide important intermediates for other metabolic processes, not
just energy production. A perfect example is the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP).
All amino acids share the same core structure, which includes a central carbon atom called alpha
carbon, an amino group (–NH₂) that acts as the base, a carboxyl group (–COOH) which acts as
the acid, a hydrogen atom, and R group which makes an amino acid unique.
NH₂−CHR−COOH
Proteins are made by linking amino acids together in a process called
translation, which takes place in the ribosomes using instructions from
mRNA (copied from DNA).
Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic (water-fearing) molecules that
play vital roles in energy storage, membrane structure, and hormone
production. Unlike carbohydrates and proteins, lipids are not polymers, but
are assembled from smaller molecular components through specialized
reactions.
Lipids, especially triglycerides, are the body’s main energy reserves. They are
stored in fat tissue, and broken down when energy is needed.
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Nucleic acids are large, complex biomolecules responsible for storing,
transmitting, and using genetic information in all living organisms. There are
two main types.
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
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