What are the building blocks of proteins?

Answer 1

The building blocks of proteins are called amino acids. Amino acids are organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms. They are characterized by having a central carbon atom (known as the alpha carbon) bonded to an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (known as the R group) that distinguishes each amino acid. There are 20 different amino acids that can be combined in various sequences to form proteins, each with a unique side chain that contributes to the structure and function of the protein.