Ever wonder what makes you able to sprint, think, eat, and even grow taller? It all comes down to some seriously cool stuff inside you called biomolecules. These are like the building blocks of life, found in every living thing, from tiny ants to us humans.Biomolecules are chemical compounds that are crucial for life, existing in every living organism. They are divided into two main groups: inorganic and organic biomolecules. Inorganic biomolecules include things like water, minerals, and gases, while organic biomolecules include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, nucleic acids, and vitamins. These molecules are constantly at work, carrying out the biochemical processes necessary for life.Organic biomolecules include various types based on their chemical structures, such as aldehydes, ketones, and aromatic compounds. Key forms include amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Unlike lipids, most biomolecules function as macromolecules, formed by the polymerisation of smaller subunits called monomers. This principle is crucial in the creation of vital biological polymers such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.Proteins, for instance, are polymers constructed from amino acids linked by peptide bonds. This bond forms through a dehydration reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, releasing a water molecule. The resulting chain folds into complex shapes that determine the protein's function.Nucleic acids like DNA and RNA involve the linkage of phosphate groups and sugar molecules of nucleotides. This forms a strong bond crucial for the stability and function of nucleic acids. Carbohydrates, particularly polysaccharides, are created by the polymerisation of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.Understanding biomolecules and their interactions provides a window into the biochemistry of life and the metabolic pathways that sustain it. From the energy we use to the structures within our cells, biomolecules are fundamental to all aspects of life.Nature's recyclersEnzymes, a type of protein, help speed up almost every chemical reaction in our bodies, acting as natural catalysts. Without enzymes, these reactions would occur too slowly to keep us alive!Universal energyATP (adenosine triphosphate) is often called the 'energy currency' of the cell because it stores and provides energy in a form that cells can use for everything from moving muscles to sending brain signals.Memory buildersNucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, not only carry genetic blueprints for all living beings but also help form memories. When you learn something new, your brain's RNA levels change!Sweet structuresCarbohydrates do more than provide energy; they also play a key role in the structure and function of cells and tissues. Cellulose, a carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants, is the most abundant organic compound on Earth.Fatty defendersLipids (fats) are not just for storing energy; they also make up the cell membrane, acting as a barrier to protect cells from their surroundings and control what goes in and out.Vitamin helpersMany vitamins act as coenzymes, helping enzymes to perform their vital functions. For example, vitamin C helps enzymes produce collagen, a protein that strengthens many parts of the body, such as skin and bones.Chirality curiositiesMany biomolecules, like amino acids, come in mirror-image forms that are not superimposable, much like your left and right hands. This property, called chirality, is crucial for their biological function.Amino acid varietyWhile humans use 20 standard amino acids to make proteins, there are hundreds of other amino acids that exist in nature, each with unique properties and roles.
Ever wonder what makes you able to sprint, think, eat, and even grow taller? It all comes down to some seriously cool stuff inside you called biomolecules. These are like the building blocks of life, found in every living thing, from tiny ants to us humans.Biomolecules are chemical compounds that are crucial for life, existing in every living organism. They are divided into two main groups: inorganic and organic biomolecules. Inorganic biomolecules include things like water, minerals, and gases, while organic biomolecules include carbohydrates, fats, proteins, nucleic acids, and vitamins. These molecules are constantly at work, carrying out the biochemical processes necessary for life.Organic biomolecules include various types based on their chemical structures, such as aldehydes, ketones, and aromatic compounds. Key forms include amino acids, nucleotides, and fatty acids. Unlike lipids, most biomolecules function as macromolecules, formed by the polymerisation of smaller subunits called monomers. This principle is crucial in the creation of vital biological polymers such as proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.Proteins, for instance, are polymers constructed from amino acids linked by peptide bonds. This bond forms through a dehydration reaction between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another, releasing a water molecule. The resulting chain folds into complex shapes that determine the protein's function.Nucleic acids like DNA and RNA involve the linkage of phosphate groups and sugar molecules of nucleotides. This forms a strong bond crucial for the stability and function of nucleic acids. Carbohydrates, particularly polysaccharides, are created by the polymerisation of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds.Understanding biomolecules and their interactions provides a window into the biochemistry of life and the metabolic pathways that sustain it. From the energy we use to the structures within our cells, biomolecules are fundamental to all aspects of life.Nature's recyclersEnzymes, a type of protein, help speed up almost every chemical reaction in our bodies, acting as natural catalysts. Without enzymes, these reactions would occur too slowly to keep us alive!Universal energyATP (adenosine triphosphate) is often called the 'energy currency' of the cell because it stores and provides energy in a form that cells can use for everything from moving muscles to sending brain signals.Memory buildersNucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA, not only carry genetic blueprints for all living beings but also help form memories. When you learn something new, your brain's RNA levels change!Sweet structuresCarbohydrates do more than provide energy; they also play a key role in the structure and function of cells and tissues. Cellulose, a carbohydrate found in the cell walls of plants, is the most abundant organic compound on Earth.Fatty defendersLipids (fats) are not just for storing energy; they also make up the cell membrane, acting as a barrier to protect cells from their surroundings and control what goes in and out.Vitamin helpersMany vitamins act as coenzymes, helping enzymes to perform their vital functions. For example, vitamin C helps enzymes produce collagen, a protein that strengthens many parts of the body, such as skin and bones.Chirality curiositiesMany biomolecules, like amino acids, come in mirror-image forms that are not superimposable, much like your left and right hands. This property, called chirality, is crucial for their biological function.Amino acid varietyWhile humans use 20 standard amino acids to make proteins, there are hundreds of other amino acids that exist in nature, each with unique properties and roles.
