Lipids differ from other large biological molecules in that they __________.

• A. are much larger
• B. do not have specific shapes
• C. do not contain carbon
• D. do not contain nitrogen and phosphorus atoms
• E. are not truly polymers

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definition of lipids: Lipids are a diverse group of hydrophobic molecules, including fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
2. Recognize the structure of lipids: Unlike proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates, lipids do not consist of monomers linked together in a chain. Instead, they are composed of smaller units like fatty acids and glycerol, but these units do not form repetitive chains.
3. Identify the characteristics of polymers: Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers. Examples include proteins (amino acids), nucleic acids (nucleotides), and carbohydrates (sugars).
4. Compare lipids to other biological molecules: While proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates are true polymers, lipids do not fit this definition because they do not have a repetitive chain structure.
5. Conclude why lipids are not considered polymers: Lipids are not truly polymers because they do not consist of repeating monomer units forming long chains, which is a defining characteristic of polymers.