The uniqueness of amino acids compared to fatty acids and sugars primarily lies in their chemical structure and their functional roles in biological systems.
The most accurate distinction among the choices provided is:
Amino acids contain nitrogen; fatty acids and sugars do not.
This is a key feature because amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and contain an amine group (-NH2) that includes nitrogen, while fatty acids and sugars (carbohydrates) do not contain nitrogen in their basic structures. This nitrogen presence in amino acids allows them to participate in complex biochemical processes, including protein synthesis.
For a bit more context on the other options:
- Amino acids do contribute to energy provision when metabolized, but this is not their primary role, which is to serve as building blocks of proteins.
- Genetic material is made up of nucleotides, which consist of nitrogenous bases, sugars, and phosphate groups; amino acids do not comprise nucleotides directly.
- All three macromolecules (amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars) can serve as building blocks for larger molecules (proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates, respectively).
Overall, the distinguishing feature is the presence of nitrogen in amino acids.
1 answer