Final answer:
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and have a specific structure consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique side chain called the R group.
Step-by-step explanation:
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They have a specific structure consisting of a central carbon atom bonded to an amino group (-NH₂), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and a variable side chain called the R group. The R group is unique for each amino acid and determines its chemical properties and function.
Amino acids are commonly represented by a single uppercase letter or a three-letter abbreviation. For example, alanine is represented as Ala or A. There are 20 common amino acids found in proteins, each with its own unique R group.
Here is a simplified representation of the generic structure of an amino acid:
H
|
R─C─OOH
|
NH₂