Describe the role of lipids.
Lipids are a great energy reserve in both plants and animals.
This is due to the greater number of carbon-hydrogen bonds present in comparison to carbohydrates.
It also acts as an insulator against heat loss, and can provide protection for delicated organs such as the kidneys, due to it being stored around them.
Finally, lipids are insoluble in water and are important in land organisms such as insects, where the waxy cuticle is crucial in reducing water loss.
JJ
Related Biology A Level answers
All answers ▸How does a mutation lead to a non-functional enzyme?
How does antibiotic resistance develop in bacterial populations?
What is atherosclerosis and how does it occur?
(b) Cigarette smoke contains nicotine. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that reduces the diameter of some blood vessels. (i) Using this information, explain why smoking increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). How do I approach this?