Final answer:
Proteins are polymers made up of monomers called amino acids. Amino acids have a central carbon bonded to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen, and a unique R group.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Monomers of Proteins
Proteins are essential macromolecules in all living organisms, performing a variety of functions including structural support, catalysis of biochemical reactions, and regulation of biological processes. The monomers that make up proteins are called amino acids. There are 20 standard amino acids, each sharing the same fundamental structure which includes a central carbon atom (alpha carbon) bonded to an amino group (NH₂), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a unique side chain or R group that determines the characteristics of each amino acid.
During protein synthesis, these amino acids are linked together through peptide bonds, forming long chains that fold into specific three-dimensional structures, giving rise to the diverse array of proteins found in nature. Amino acids are encoded by the DNA sequence, which contains the instructions for their order within a protein.