Nucleic Acids

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) are nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are molecules comprised of monomers known as nucleotides. These molecules may be relatively small (as in the case of certain kinds of RNA) or quite large (a single ..

Enzymes

Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts. They decrease the amount of energy needed (activation energy) to start a metabolic reaction. Without enzymes, organisms are not being able to harvest energy and nutrients from food. One common example is ..

Protein

Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids bound by bonds called peptide bond. There are some 22 different known amino acids which can compose proteins. There may be many more unknown to us. Functional Versatility of Proteins Numerous ..

Cholesterol

Cholesterol refers to a subclass of lipids known as steroids. Cholesterol is also the molecule from which steroid hormones and bile acids are built. Importance of Cholesterol Cholesterol is a steroid of fat used to maintain the strength, permeability and ..

Lipids

Lipids refer to a group of molecules comprising fats, oils, phospholipids, waxes and steroids. All lipids are hydrophobic and don’t dissolve in water. However, they dissolve in organic solvents. The backbone of all lipid compounds is Glycerol or Glycerine. Glycerol is ..

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are essential organic compounds that serve as a primary source of energy for living organisms, including humans. They are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms and exist in various forms. Composition of Carbohydrates Elements: Carbohydrates are compounds ..

Importance of Mineral Salts and Ions in Human Body

Inorganic substances made of metallic elements such as iron, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, or of non-metallic elements, such as chlorine and phosphorus. The mineral salts are found in two forms viz. solubilized ions (such as sodium and potassium ions ..

Importance of Water for Life

Water is the basis of life. There are various properties of water that make it basis of life. These include its molecular polarity, high specific heat, its boiling and melting points which allow it to remain liquid in most environments ..