answersLogoWhite

0

Because with very few exceptions (none to my knowledge!), all living organisms are carbon-based. This means that the fundamental building blocks, what living things are made of, is carbon atoms. While carbon isn't the only element (hydrogen, nitrogen and other are also essential), carbon is the building blocks -- the bricks and mortar if you will. This is because carbon easily combines with many other atoms.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about General Science

Does a phone have a carbon footprint?

No :P It uses electricity, and so doesn't use carbon compounds.


What is the building blocks of all living things?

The cell is the basic building block of all living things. yes and cells are made of hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen so those are your main building blocks of all living things :)


What is the importance of carbon in biology?

Any compound with elements C,H,O are called organic compounds. SO Carbon helps make organic compounds. Examples of polymers that are made of these elements are Polysaccharides, Proteins (with N and sometimes s and p), Nucleic Acids (DNA, RNA), and although not a polysaccharide, Lipids (Fats, oils and waxes) Each of these biomacromolecules are important in biology...if you know the important of these then you know the importance of Carbon...eg. Polysaccharides for energy, engergy storage, structural, Lipids for insulation, fat storage, water proofing, Proteins for Structure, hormones, enzymes, Nucleic Acids to code for the synthesis of Proteins and carrying on genetic information on to the next generation.. Hope that helped.


What are some nonliving and living things that contain carbon?

Limestone is composed of calcium carbonate, CaCO3 (the 3 is a sub-script) so it's a calcium atom, a carbon atom, and 3 oxygen atoms. There are some other minerals that contain carbon as well. Diamond, which is pure carbon, is an example.


How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration important parts of the carbon cycle?

Photosynthesis is the process in which carbon dioxide is converted to glucose, so carbon is stored.Respiration is the process in which carbohydrates are converted to water and carbon dioxide, so that carbon is released again into the air.During these processes, both animals and plants help themselves survive by either releasing energy or storing it. Meanwhile carbon is returned back to the air.

Related Questions

Why is the element so important to living things?

Because Carbon is in everything.


Why is carbon dioxide an important gas to have in the air?

so living things can live.so we can breatheso that the world works


Why Is The Human Heart So Important To Your Body?

The heart is the prime mover in the circulatory system. And the circulatory system is how all living tissue in our body is carried food and oxygen, and how all waste and carbon dioxide is carried off. idiot it doesent make sence


What of the six elements is most important?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus are major nutrient for living being so are most imp.


What is the importance of the Carbon cycle to living things?

Earth is not a carbon-based planet. It is a metal-silicate planet. It has a silicate crust and mantle and a metallic core.Life on Earth is said to be carbon based.


Carbon compounds that come from living organisms called?

They are called organic compounds. Every living thing contains carbon, so a carbon compound that comes from a lving thing is considered an organic compound.


How is oxygen used by living thing and in other important process?

Oxygen is important to humans so we can breathe. we then give off carbon dioxide which plants need. Plants give off oxygen and the cycle repeats.


How does nervous system and circulatory system work together to maintain homeostasis?

The respiratory system feeds the cardiovascular system oxygen which the cardiovascular system then transports to every living cell in the body and simultaneously the cardiovascular system is transporting carbon dioxide to the respiratory system so that the respiratory system will expel the carbon dioxide from the body (large amounts of carbon dioxide are fatal). This balance is necessary of oxygen and carbon monoxide to cells (all of them) in producing energy that is used to move muscles and maintain the homeostatic temperature of the body.


What elements make all living things?

carbon makes up all living things.. so chill...:-)


What living things take carbon from the air so that animals can use it?

Plants


What roles do producers play in carbon cycle?

producers take in carbon dioxide from photosynthesis and so they create the system because consumers eat the producers they get carbon and so on so forth.we eventually release that carbon into the air as carbon dioxide.


Why is the carbon cycle important to living things?

All organisms need CARBON in order to make their bodies, CARBON is the main componenet of clucose, proteins and lipids, so plants use CARBON to make their food and other organisms eat plants, therefor CARBON gets locked up in their tissues. CARBON needs to get back into the CYCLE to complete it, and that's why CARBON CYCLE is so important. without it, plants would eventually use up all the CARBON dound in the nature and when eaten by animals, the carbon would stay in their bodies and in the soil forever, which is NOT good. o.kz