Living systems are made up of various complex biomolecules like carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, etc. Proteins and carbohydrates are essential constituents of our food. In addition, some simple molecules like vitamins and mineral salts also play an important role in the functions of organisms. All proteins are polymers of $\mathrm{\alpha}$-amino acids. Proteins can be classified into two types on the basis of their molecular shape — Fibrous and Globular proteins. Vitamins are accessory food factors required in the diet. They are classified as fat-soluble and water-soluble. Deficiency of vitamins leads to many diseases. Nucleic acids are the polymers of nucleotides which in turn consist of a base, a pentose sugar and phosphate moiety. There are two types of nucleic acids — DNA and RNA. Nucleic acids are responsible for the transfer of characters from parents to offsprings.
