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biomolecule

/ˌbaɪoʊˈmɑləˌkjul/
IPA guide

Other forms: biomolecules

A biomolecule is a chemical building block produced by living organisms. The carbohydrates and proteins found in food are common examples of biomolecules, which are essential for biological processes like growth and energy production.

Bios is the Greek word for "life," so the clue is in the name: These molecules are the essential compounds created by living beings to sustain life. While simple elements like carbon are the raw materials, the term biomolecules refers to the complex structures that living things build from them. Hormones, which regulate bodily functions, and DNA, which carries our genetic code, are two types of biomolecules. Biomolecules are also found in food: Vitamins and proteins like gelatin are two examples.

Definitions of biomolecule
  1. noun
    a natural substance, such as a protein, created by or essential for living things
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