How Atoms Combine to Create Molecules of Life

Atoms join by sharing or transferring electrons, forming chemical bonds.
Carbon’s ability to bond four ways makes it the backbone of life’s molecules.
Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon make up about 96% of living matter.
Water molecules, built from hydrogen and oxygen, are vital for all biology.
Proteins are giant molecules formed from chains of amino acids bonded together.
DNA’s famous double helix is built from repeating units of bonded atoms.
Sugars like glucose are energy-rich molecules made by linking carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Lipids form from atoms bonding into long chains, creating fats and cell membranes.
The way atoms combine determines a molecule’s shape, which controls its function.
From cells to tissues to organs, all of life’s complexity begins with atoms bonding into molecules.