How are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids similar and different?
Carbohydrates contain carbon. hydrogen, and oxygen. The building blocks of carbohydrates are monosaccharides. Carbohydrates are ingested as sugars and starches. They are the major energy source for the formation of ATP. Lipids enter the body in the form of fat-marbled meats, egg yolks, milk products, and oils. The most abundent lipids in the body are neutral fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Like carbohydrates, lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. But lipids carbon and hydrogen atoms out number the oxygen atoms. Proteins make up more than 50% of the organic matter found in the body. The building block of proteins are small molecules called amino acids. Their are 20 common types of amino acids that are found in the body. The amino acid sequence determines the proteins constructed. Nucleic acids make up the genes, which provide the basic blueprint of life. Nucleic acids contain carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus atoms. Their building blocks are called nucleotides which con
