The discovery of lipids revolutionized biology and chemistry. Scientists uncovered how fats, oils, and related compounds affect life. For example, identifying lipids in cell membranes explained how nutrients and signals pass into cells. This understanding advanced medicine, nutrition, and molecular biology.

French chemist Michel Eugène Chevreul, in the early 1800s, isolated fatty acids from animal fats. He used alcohol and ether as solvents, revealing that fats weren’t simple substances. His work, therefore, laid the foundation for lipid classification and inspired future research into fats, oils, and waxes.

Lipids were found to be more than energy storage. For instance, phospholipids form cell membranes, enabling cell protection and communication. Because of their hydrophobic nature, lipids help maintain internal cell environments. This made them essential to life and a key subject in cellular biology.

Researchers used techniques like saponification—boiling fats with alkali—to break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol. They also applied chromatography to separate lipid types. These methods uncovered lipid diversity, including triglycerides, steroids, and phospholipids.

Understanding lipids led to breakthroughs in heart health, obesity research, and hormone therapy. For example, recognizing cholesterol as a lipid linked it to cardiovascular disease. This knowledge, in turn, led to statin development and better dietary guidelines.

Lipids include triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes. Triglycerides store energy, while phospholipids build cell membranes. Steroids, like cholesterol, regulate hormones. Waxes protect skin and plant surfaces. Because each type has a specific role, lipids are essential to survival and health across all living organisms.