biomolecule

Definition

Any organic molecule, such as a sugar, that is essential to the biological processes and structural foundations of living organisms.

Etymology

The word is a modern scientific compound formed from the Greek 'bios' (life) and the Latin 'molecula' (a small mass or particle). It reflects the shift in biology to describe life processes through the lens of chemistry.

In the news

In this article, the term refers to sugars like erythrulose, which are necessary for DNA and RNA formation. Their discovery in space suggests that life-essential compounds may have been delivered to early Earth via cosmic bodies.

Sugar discovered floating in deep space for the first time

Popular Science

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