Unit 2 : Chemistry of Life
Carbohydrates - are sugars that the body uses for energy. Simple carbohydrates, also called simple sugars, provide the body with quick energy. They are found in fruit, milk and white sugar. Complex carbohydrates, known as fiber and starch, are broken down in the body slower than simple carbohydrates. They are found in vegetables, bread, rice, oatmeal, whole grains and peas.
Lipids - are a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins.
Nucleic Acids - Nucleic acids are polymolecules, or large biomolecules, essential for all known forms of life. Nucleic acids, which include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid), are made from monomers known as nucleotides.
Proteins - Proteins are large biological molecules, or macromolecules, consisting of one or more long chains of amino acid residues.
Enzymes - are biological molecules (proteins) that act as catalysts and help complex reactions occur everywhere in life. Let's say you ate a piece of meat. Proteases would go to work and help break down the peptide bonds between the amino acids.