Lipids are big molecules that don’t mix well with water and are mostly fat-like. They include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
Fats, also called triglycerides, store energy. They are made of fatty acids and either glycerol or sphingosine. Fatty acids can be saturated (only single bonds) or unsaturated (have double bonds).
Phospholipids are found in cell membranes. They have a backbone of glycerol or sphingosine with two fatty acid chains and a phosphate group attached.
Steroids are a different kind of lipid with a structure of four carbon rings fused together. Cholesterol is a type of steroid found in cell membranes. It helps keep the membrane flexible and is also used to make hormones like testosterone.
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