Tag: Comparative biology

As essential macronutrients for life, both carbohydrates and lipids are composed of the same three core elements, a fact that underlines their fundamental similarity. This shared chemical foundation dictates their similar functions as primary energy sources and vital components for living organisms, though they serve different roles in energy storage and release.

While shrimp shells and fingernails are both tough and protective, the materials that make them up are fundamentally different. The simple answer to the question, "Are shrimp shells made of keratin?" is no, their primary structural component is chitin, not keratin. This common misconception stems from the fact that both are durable, external structures, but they originate from completely different biological molecules.

Despite the common belief, the longest canine teeth of any land mammal belong to a plant-eating hippopotamus. This fact immediately challenges the assumption that the presence of prominent canines is exclusive evidence of a carnivorous diet, prompting a deeper look at human dental evolution.