Final answer:
The major categories of biomolecules are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids, with cholesterol being a specific type of lipid rather than a separate category.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four major categories of biomolecules essential for life are proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids. These categories encompass a wide range of molecules with diverse structures and functions that are crucial to the structure and function of cells.
- Proteins are composed of amino acids and serve as the building blocks of cells, playing roles in structural support, catalyzing biochemical reactions as enzymes, and regulating processes within the cell.
- Carbohydrates include sugars and starches, providing energy and serving as components of cell walls in plants.
- Lipids are a broad group of molecules that include fats, oils, and waxes, important for energy storage, cell membrane structure, and signaling.
- Nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are responsible for storage, transmission, and expression of genetic information.
The major categories of biomolecules are nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. Cholesterol, although often associated with lipids, is more specifically a type of lipid molecule, not a major biomolecule category itself.