Biochemistry Basics
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids run life.
About this topic
Biochemistry is the chemistry of living things. The four major classes of biomolecules are carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates (sugars, starch, cellulose) provide energy and structure; lipids (fats, oils, steroids) store energy and form membranes; proteins (made of amino acids) build tissues and act as enzymes; nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) store and transmit genetic information.
Most are polymers built from small monomers by condensation reactions and broken by hydrolysis. Glucose units join to give starch and glycogen; amino acids link through peptide bonds to form polypeptides, which fold into specific shapes held by hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds and disulfide bridges; nucleotides carry a sugar, phosphate and one of four bases. Base pairing (A with T, G with C) explains how DNA is copied. ATP is the energy currency, storing energy in its phosphate bonds. Photosynthesis, 6CO2 + 6H2O gives C6H12O6 + 6O2, captures light energy and cellular respiration releases it.
Example: when you eat bread, enzymes such as amylase break the starch into glucose, which your cells oxidise for energy. Heating an egg denatures its proteins, changing their shape permanently. Sickle cell anaemia comes from a single amino acid change in haemoglobin.
Misconceptions: that fats are always bad (they are essential) and that enzymes are living; they are just protein molecules. Biochemistry underlies nutrition, medicine and biotechnology.
Key ideas
- Monomers: sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides
- Enzymes are proteins
- DNA stores information
Quick check
Use cases: where Biochemistry Basics helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Biochemistry Basics before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Biochemistry Basics without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Biochemistry Basics changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Biochemistry Basics in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Chemistry explains medicine, food, cleaning products, fuels and building materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is Biochemistry Basics?
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acids run life.
What will I learn in Biochemistry Basics?
Monomers: sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides. Enzymes are proteins. DNA stores information.
Is Biochemistry Basics part of Chemistry?
Yes. It is one of 150 Chemistry topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Biochemistry Basics lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Biochemistry Basics?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.