9. The 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins share a core structure. Which of the following give each amino acid its specific characteristics?

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9. The 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins share a core structure. Which of the following give each amino acid its specific characteristics?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks: The 20 amino acids that are building blocks of proteins share a core structure. Which feature gives each amino acid its specific characteristics?

Option considerations:
- In this item, the provided answer suggests: 'Side chain/R group'. This aligns with fundamental biochemistry: while all amino acids share a common backbone (amino group, central carbon, carboxyl group, and a hydrogen), the side chain (R group) is what differentiates one amino acid from another.

Why the side chain is key:
- The side chain determines properties such as polarity, charge at physiological pH, size, and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, which in turn influence protein folding, structure, and function.
- Variations in the R group lead to amino acids being classified as nonpolar, polar uncharged, acidic, or basic, shaping interactions with solvents and other residues.

What this implies about the other potential options (even though none are listed here):
- If an option referenced the amino or carboxyl groups as the sole determinant, that would be incomplete, because those groups are shared by all amino acids and do not confer unique properties to distinguish one amino acid from another.
- If an option claimed that the backbone or peptide bond dictates identity, that would be inaccurate since the backbone is conserved across all amino acids; the side chain is the differentiator.
- If an option claimed external factors or context solely dictate characteristics, that would miss the intrinsic chemical property conferred by the R group, though environment can modulate behavior.

In sum, the specific characteristics of each amino acid—and thus their roles in proteins—primarily arise from the chemical nature of their side chain (R group), which is the determinant feature that differentiates one amino acid from another.

BIOT5750.39480.202530 Assessment Quiz 1

9. The 20 amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins share a core structure. Which of the following give each amino acid its specific characteristics?

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