About 25 essential elements build all living things, with just six elements making up 99% of the human body. These elements rarely exist as pure forms but combine into compounds through chemical bonds.
Section 1
Elements Join Together to Form All Living Matter
About 25 essential elements build all living things, with just six elements making up 99% of the human body. These elements rarely exist as pure forms but combine into compounds through chemical bonds.
Section 2
Four Molecule Types Support Critical Cell Functions
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids work together in cells. Each molecule type has unique structures and functions, from energy storage to genetic coding, but all contain carbon atoms.
Section 3
Water Creates the Environment for Cell Chemistry
Water makes up about two-thirds of every cell and enables chemical reactions. Its polar structure, with positive hydrogen ends and negative oxygen end, allows many substances to dissolve while repelling others like oils.
Section 4
Cell Membranes Use Lipids to Create Boundaries
Special lipid molecules with water-loving heads and water-hating tails form cell membranes. This structure creates boundaries between the watery environments inside and outside cells, allowing cells to maintain separation.
Section 5
Nucleic Acids Store and Translate Genetic Instructions
DNA and RNA provide instructions for cell maintenance, growth, and reproduction. DNA holds information as a code in its nucleotide sequence, which RNA delivers to the cytoplasm for protein production.
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Section 1
Elements Join Together to Form All Living Matter
About 25 essential elements build all living things, with just six elements making up 99% of the human body. These elements rarely exist as pure forms but combine into compounds through chemical bonds.
Section 2
Four Molecule Types Support Critical Cell Functions
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids work together in cells. Each molecule type has unique structures and functions, from energy storage to genetic coding, but all contain carbon atoms.
Section 3
Water Creates the Environment for Cell Chemistry
Water makes up about two-thirds of every cell and enables chemical reactions. Its polar structure, with positive hydrogen ends and negative oxygen end, allows many substances to dissolve while repelling others like oils.
Section 4
Cell Membranes Use Lipids to Create Boundaries
Special lipid molecules with water-loving heads and water-hating tails form cell membranes. This structure creates boundaries between the watery environments inside and outside cells, allowing cells to maintain separation.
Section 5
Nucleic Acids Store and Translate Genetic Instructions
DNA and RNA provide instructions for cell maintenance, growth, and reproduction. DNA holds information as a code in its nucleotide sequence, which RNA delivers to the cytoplasm for protein production.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter