Lipids are a diverse group of compounds that serve various functions in the body, including energy storage, insulation, and forming cell membranes. Unlike carbohydrates and proteins, lipids are not made up of repeating monomer units like glucose or amino acids. Instead, the basic building blocks of lipids are fatty acids and glycerol.
Fatty acids are long chains of hydrocarbons that can be saturated (having no double bonds between carbon atoms) or unsaturated (containing one or more double bonds). Glycerol, on the other hand, is a three-carbon alcohol that serves as the backbone for many lipids. Together, these components form different types of lipids, such as triglycerides (the main form of fat storage), phospholipids (essential for cell membranes), and steroids (which have various functions in the body).
In summary, while there aren’t traditional monomers for lipids like in other macromolecules, fatty acids and glycerol are considered their primary building blocks.