biology question #1000

Nikhil Bhansali, a 19 year old male from New Delhi asks on October 30, 2002,

Q:

Why are the lipids found in the human body mostly even numbered?
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the answer

Reg Mitchell answered on November 25, 2002, A:

Fatty acids are made via acetyl-co-enzyme-A which adds two carbons (the acetyl group) at a time, so nearly all are even numbers of carbon atoms; likewise, when fats are broken down, they are chopped off two carbons at a time.

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