That such diverse physiological functions and effects should be exhibited by steroids, all of which are synthesized by essentially the same central biosynthetic pathway, is a remarkable example of biological economy. Most of these functions, especially those of a hormonal type, involve the transmission of biologically essential information. The specific information content of the steroid resides in the character and arrangement of its substituent groups and in other subtle structural modifications. The most generally abundant steroids are sterols, which occur in all tissues of animals, green plants, and fungi such as yeasts. Evidence for the presence of steroids in bacteria ...(100 of 7003 words)