Science

All proteins are chains of amino acids which have four attachments. These are hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amine group and a side group. They each influence its structure considerably. […]

With only 20 different amino acids to combine with, the variety of proteins is staggering. Even if only 12 out of the 20 amino acids combine, it would result in 40 billion different peptides and an infinite number of protein structures. […]

A peptide bond is formed when the carboxyl group on one amino acid comes into contact with the amine group on another amino acid. What replaces it is a C-N bond, linking those two amino acids together. […]

Understanding the shape of an enzyme is critical, as drugs work by binding to the active site of an enzyme, thus blocking its function. […]

Fats, oils, and waxes belong to a great type of biomolecule: lipids. Insoluble in water, they can form cell membranes and function in various other roles. […]

Carbohydrates, the most abundant biomolecules, play a major role in every living thing. From monosaccharides to polysaccharides, these are all carbon-based molecules. […]

Interestingly, all living organisms are constructed from a few different molecular building blocks, all of which have four characteristics in common. […]

Our rich biodiversity consists of different species of plants and animals. They all have their individual sources to obtain energy from. Despite the differences in these organisms, they all rely on the same metabolic process to release energy. […]