Which class of organic molecule forms the greatest proportion of the dry mass of a typical cell?
- A. Carbohydrates
- B. Proteins
- C. Lipids
- D. Nucleic acids
Explanation
Proteins account for roughly half the dry mass because they serve as enzymes, transporters, receptors, antibodies and structural fibres all at once, so a cell needs thousands of different ones. Carbohydrates and lipids are present in large amounts too but fill a narrower range of roles, mainly energy and structure. Nucleic acids are a small fraction by mass despite controlling everything else.
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