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biomolecule

American  
[bahy-oh-mahl-uh-kyool] / ˌbaɪ oʊˈmɑl əˌkjul /

noun

  • biomolecules
    plural
  1. an organic molecule occurring in living organisms, such as an amino acid or protein.


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Explanation

A biomolecule is a chemical building block produced by living organisms. The carbohydrates and proteins found in food are common examples of biomolecules, which are essential for biological processes like growth and energy production. Bios is the Greek word for "life," so the clue is in the name: These molecules are the essential compounds created by living beings to sustain life. While simple elements like carbon are the raw materials, the term biomolecules refers to the complex structures that living things build from them. Hormones, which regulate bodily functions, and DNA, which carries our genetic code, are two types of biomolecules. Biomolecules are also found in food: Vitamins and proteins like gelatin are two examples.

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Example Sentences

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To encourage such widespread adoption, DeepMind researchers today also released AlphaFold Server, a free online platform that enables users to create AF3 models of proteins interacting with almost any other biomolecule.

From Science Magazine ● May 8, 2024

In the study, the researchers showed that oxidative dearomatisation changes the three-dimensional structure of some biomolecule components, which in turn can activate a cascade of subsequent and differentiated reactions, resulting in millions of diverse molecules.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2024

This enables researchers to test the resolution of the latest super-resolution microscopy methods with unprecedented precision on a precisely defined cellular biomolecule.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 1, 2023

If it holds up, the model, which is now guiding laboratory experiments for confirmation, could re-establish the reputation of proteins as the original self-replicating biomolecule.

From Scientific American ● Nov. 12, 2017

Only by knowing the atom-by-atom arrangement of a biomolecule can researchers grasp how it works — how, for instance, the ribosome reads strands of messenger RNA to manufacture proteins, or how molecular pores flip open and shut.

From Nature ● Sep. 8, 2015

Researchers plan to use advanced computational modeling and artificial intelligence to design specialized biomolecules and predict how they will interact with silicon-rich waste.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

The author also discusses molecular cooperation and co-evolution during the earliest stages of life's emergence, as well as additional physical perspectives on the OoL, including ideas related to the chiral origin of biomolecules.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 10, 2026

"This research shows beyond doubt that organic biomolecules, such as proteins like collagen, appear to be present in some fossils."

From Science Daily ● May 14, 2026

When this happens, those particles become excited and often break down, which can destroy important biomolecules and disrupt larger biological systems.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 24, 2026

The researchers propose that these atmospheric biomolecules may have fallen to the surface through rainfall, potentially delivering the chemistry needed to help life begin.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 3, 2025

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