--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Living organisms are constructed, for the…" description: "\"“Living organisms are constructed, for the most part, from compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Carbon is critical because of its astonishing flexibility...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/david-christian-7861_biology_living-organisms-are-constructed-for-the_2262964.jpg" --- # Living organisms are constructed, for the most part, from… ![“Living organisms are constructed, for the most part, from compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Carbon is critical because of its astonishing flexibility. Add hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur and we can account for 99 percent of the dry weight of all living organisms.” quote by David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/david-christian-7861_biology_living-organisms-are-constructed-for-the_2262964.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/david-christian-7861_biology_living-organisms-are-constructed-for-the_2262964.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e49/david-christian-7861_biology_living-organisms-are-constructed-for-the_2262964.jpg) > ““Living organisms are constructed, for the most part, from compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Carbon is critical because of its astonishing flexibility. Add hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur and we can account for 99 percent of the dry weight of all living organisms.”” [David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-christian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Carbon’s versatility makes it the backbone of life, while other elements complete the chemistry of organisms. **In simple terms:** Carbon is key to life’s chemistry. Key Takeaway Study chemistry to understand biology. Themes science chemistry biology Mood curious analytical Type educational informative When to use this quote - education - research - environmental studies Key Concepts elemental diversity organic chemistry Questions to Reflect On - Why is carbon uniquely flexible? - How do other elements complement carbon? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carbon/) [Compounds Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compounds-carbon-4284767/) [Hydrogen Carbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hydrogen-carbon-4831728/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living organisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-organisms/) [Organisms Constructed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organisms-constructed-5214464/) ## Related quotes > [“Methylation works by the use of a chemical compound, in the shape of three-leaf clovers made up of hydrogen and carbon,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-moalem/methylation-works-by-the-use-of-a-chemical-compound-in-the-shape-of/) [Sharon Moalem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-moalem/) > [Why, for example, should a group of simple, stable compounds of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen struggle for billions of years to organise themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/why-for-example-should-a-group-of-simple-stable-compounds-of-carbon/) [Robert M. 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