Which of the following represents a category of biological macromolecules that includes simple sugars?

Carbohydrates are a category of biological macromolecules that primarily consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a 1:2:1 ratio. Simple sugars, also known as monosaccharides, are the most basic form of carbohydrates. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose. These monosaccharides can combine to form disaccharides (like sucrose) and polysaccharides (such as starch and glycogen), which are more complex carbohydrates but still fundamentally connected to simple sugars.

The function of carbohydrates goes beyond just providing energy; they also play critical roles in biological processes, such as cellular recognition and providing structural support in plant cell walls through cellulose. In contrast, proteins are made up of amino acids and perform a different range of functions in the body, lipids are primarily hydrophobic molecules that include fats and oils, and nucleic acids like DNA and RNA are involved in genetic information storage and transfer. Each of these macromolecules serves unique purposes in biological systems, but the category that includes simple sugars is specifically carbohydrates.