NASA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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  1. Question

    What is a lipid?

    According to the Wikipedia on-line encyclopedia, lipids are "fatty acid esters, a class of water-insoluble organic molecules". They are a basic ingredient of life, since they can form biological membranes. These membranes played a key role in defining the earliest cells, enabling life to enclose its organic material and separate it from the surrounding water.

    David Morrison
    NAI Senior Scientist

    January 25, 2005