Summary
This section emphasizes the profound impact that small molecular differences can have on biological functions and human health. It covers the structure and effects of dietary fats—especially the harmful trans fats—explains the importance of the carbon backbone and functional groups in organic molecules, and illustrates how metabolic reactions (condensation and hydrolysis) facilitate the synthesis and breakdown of polymers such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The relationship between structure and function in biomolecules underpins both everyday physiology and pathological conditions like heart disease and neurodegenerative disorders.