Organic Molecules & Enzymes

Ever wonder what you're actually made of? Your body (and all living things) contain four main types of organic molecules. Carbohydrates are your body's preferred energy source and include sugars made from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Proteins, chains of amino acids, serve as enzymes, hormones, and help build muscles.

Lipids are water-insoluble molecules (like fats and oils) that provide long-term energy storage, insulation, and cushion your organs. They can be saturated (full of hydrogen) or unsaturated (with double bonds). Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) store and transmit your genetic information through units called nucleotides.

Enzymes are special proteins that work as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being used up themselves. They lower the activation energy needed for reactions and help break down complex molecules called substrates. Each specific reaction in your body needs a specific enzyme.

Science in Action: Enzymes are incredibly sensitive to their environment. They work best at specific temperatures (usually around 40°C) and pH levels. That's why high fevers can be dangerous—they can denature (destroy) enzymes, preventing vital chemical reactions in your body!

The amazing properties of water also make life possible through its cohesion, ability to moderate temperature, and unique property of expanding when frozen (which is why ice floats!). Water's polarity makes it an excellent solvent for many biological molecules.