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Why Do Animals Need Carbon?

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Katie Harry answered
Carbon is the basis of all organic molecules that make up the animal body. It is a part of proteins that make up the muscle tissue of animals as well as the enzymes that run all chemical reactions occurring in the body.
Carbon is also a part of carbohydrates which are a major source of energy for the animal. All carbohydrates are broken down into glucose which also contains carbon and which is the main substrate that is  processed to release energy.
Another important molecule that contains carbon is lipid. Lipids are used for a variety of purposes in animals. They form a layer beneath an animal's skin which helps to insulate  its body to help it survive extreme cold temperatures. This is especially important for animals that live in very cold habitats like polar bears.
It is fat which forms blubber in whales and which provides buoyancy to fish.
Also, all hormones in an animal are also carbon based and help different functions like growth and development, reproduction and behavior.
Thus, carbon is the basis of all life. It is the common element in most structures that make up an animal body and also in substance that help to run and regulate the body processes. And that is in short why carbon is so important for animals.

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