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We couldn’t survive without proteins. They’re essential molecules that provide cells with structure, aid in chemical reactions, support communication, and much more. Portion out protein numbers with us below!
These green spots are clumps of protein inside yeast cells that are deficient in both zinc and a protein that prevents clumping. Credit: Colin MacDiarmid and David Eide, University of Wisconsin at Madison and the Journal of Biological Chemistry.
10 Trillion
That’s how many proteins scientists estimate are in each human cell.
229,378
That’s how many structures researchers shared with the scientific community through the Protein Data Bank (PDB) from its establishment in 1971 to the end of 2024. The PDB is a global repository for 3D structural data of proteins, DNA, RNA, and even complexes these biological molecules form with medicines or other small molecules.
42
That’s the percent of your body weight (not counting water) that’s made up of proteins.
Numbers are everywhere in chemistry. You can’t balance equations, determine limiting reactants, or calculate percent yields without them. So, let’s dive into some of the significant figures in chemistry!
3
A lithium atom with three protons (red) and four neutrons (blue) in the nucleus and three gray electrons orbiting around them. Credit: iStock.
That's the number of different types of particles—protons, neutrons, and electrons—that make up atoms, the basic unit of all matter. Protons are positively charged, neutrons are neutral, and electrons are negatively charged. The number of protons in an atom determines what element it is, and atoms usually have an equal number of protons and electrons. Atoms can have different numbers of neutrons, though, and atoms with the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons are called isotopes. Protons and neutrons make up the core—or nucleus—of an atom, and electrons orbit around them.
4.9 Million
That’s how many miles per hour the electron in one hydrogen atom in a molecule of water is moving. At that rate, the electron could make it from New York City to Los Angeles in about 2 seconds!
If you like this post, check out our other "By the Numbers" posts!
Cells are the basic unit of life—and the focus of much scientific study. They’re categorized based on whether or not they have a distinct nucleus. Prokaryotic cells, like some bacteria such as blue-green algae, don’t have distinct nuclei. Instead, their nuclear material is spread throughout the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells—or cells with nuclei—make up humans, animals, plants, and fungi. Here are just a few of cells’ fascinating facets.
30 Trillion
That's about how many human cells adults have in their bodies. Males are on the higher side with about 36 trillion cells, while females average about 28 trillion cells.
If you like this post, check out our other "By the Numbers" posts!
Even though scientists have been studying genetics since the mid-19th century, they continue to make new discoveries about genes and how they impact our health on a regular basis. NIGMS researchers study how genes are expressed and regulated, how gene variants with different “spellings” of their genetic code affect health, and much more. Get the drop on DNA and the gist of genes with these fast facts:
National Institute of
