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The simple answer is lipids are generally molecules that mix poorly with water and proteins are the basic building blocks of tissues. Proteins can be and are often larger than lipids, usually falling into the macromolecule category. Structurally, lipids have long hydrocarbon tails and some form of hydrophilic head while proteins are polymers composed of the 20 amino acids. Proteins, as mentioned, can be very large molecules and the chemical properties of a protein's amino acids give it a specific 3D shape. Looking at a cell, phospholipids, a type of lipid, make up the cell membrane, while proteins make up the various transport channels and functional assemblies attached to the membrane. It's a big question to answer, I hope this helps some.

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14y ago

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