Carbohydrates are the macromolecule made up of simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides like glucose and fructose.

Quick Facts on Carbohydrates

These large molecules form when simple sugars link together through dehydration synthesis, creating polysaccharides such as starch (in plants) or glycogen (in animals).

  • Monosaccharides : Single-unit simple sugars (e.g., glucose for energy).
  • Disaccharides : Two units (e.g., sucrose from glucose + fructose).
  • Polysaccharides : Long chains for storage/structure (e.g., cellulose in plants).

Unlike proteins (amino acids), lipids (fatty acids/glycerol), or nucleic acids (nucleotides), carbs directly polymerize from sugars.

Macromolecule Comparison

MacromoleculeMade from Simple Sugars?Examples
CarbohydratesYesStarch, glycogen
ProteinsNoEnzymes, hemoglobin
LipidsNoFats, phospholipids
Nucleic AcidsNoDNA, RNA
[1][9] **TL;DR** : Carbohydrates (complex carbs) are built from simple sugars; others aren't.

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