Final answer:
The R group of glycine is a hydrogen atom (H), making it the simplest amino acid with a non-chiral carbon.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked about the R group of glycine, which is an amino acid. The general structure of amino acids includes an amino group (-NH₂), a carboxylic acid group (-CO₂H), and a side chain represented by R, which varies among different amino acids and gives them their unique properties.
In the specific case of glycine, the R group is simply a hydrogen atom (H). This makes glycine unique as it is the only amino acid with just a hydrogen atom as its side chain, thus it does not have a chiral center. The properties and order of the amino acids, including their side chains, determine the overall shape of a protein, which in turn determines its function.