There are 20 Different Amino Acids

Question

There are 20 different amino acids.What makes one amino acid different from another?
A)different side chains (R groups)attached to a carboxyl carbon
B)different side chains (R groups)attached to the amino groups
C)different side chains (R groups)attached to an α carbon
D)different structural and optical isomers
E)different asymmetric carbons

Accepted Answer

The 20 different amino acids have the same basic backbone structure, consisting of an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a central α carbon. It is the side chain (R group) attached to the α carbon that varies between the different amino acids, giving them different chemical and physical properties.