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  1. Amino acid | Definition, Structure, & Facts | Britannica

    Dec 17, 2025 · Amino acid, any of a group of organic molecules that consist of a basic amino group, an acidic carboxyl group, and a unique organic side chain. The term amino acid is short for α-amino …

  2. Protein - Amino Acids, Structure, Function | Britannica

    Nov 29, 2025 · Proteins are one of three primary macronutrients that provide energy to the human body, along with fats and carbohydrates. They consist of amino acids that are essential to proper body …

  3. Amino acid - Building Blocks, Structure, Functions | Britannica

    Dec 17, 2025 · Amino acid - Building Blocks, Structure, Functions: One of the most useful manners by which to classify the standard (or common) amino acids is based on the polarity (that is, the …

  4. Structure and properties of amino acids | Britannica

    amino acid, Any of a class of organic compounds in which a carbon atom has bonds to an amino group (―NH2), a carboxyl group (―COOH), a hydrogen atom (―H), and an organic side group (called ―R).

  5. Amino acid - Reactions, Structure, Synthesis | Britannica

    Dec 17, 2025 · Amino acid - Reactions, Structure, Synthesis: Amino acids via their various chemical functionalities (carboxyls, amino, and R groups) can undergo numerous chemical reactions.

  6. Codon | Definition, Function, & Examples | Britannica

    Each codon stands for a specific amino acid, so if the message in mRNA is 900 nucleotides long, which corresponds to 300 codons, it will be translated into a chain of 300 amino acids.

  7. What is an amino acid? | Britannica

    An amino acid is an organic molecule that is made up of a basic amino group (−NH 2), an acidic carboxyl group (−COOH), and an organic R group (or side chain) that is unique to each amino acid.

  8. Protein | Definition, Structure, & Classification | Britannica

    Nov 29, 2025 · A protein is a naturally occurring, extremely complex substance that consists of amino acid residues joined by peptide bonds. Proteins are present in all living organisms and include many …

  9. Transfer RNA (tRNA) | Britannica

    The order of tRNA molecules ultimately determines the amino acid sequence of a protein because molecules of tRNA catalyze the formation of peptide bonds between the amino acids, linking them …

  10. Genetic code | Definition, Characteristics, Table, & Facts | Britannica

    6 days ago · Three adjacent nucleotides constitute a unit known as the codon, which codes for an amino acid. For example, the sequence AUG is a codon that specifies the amino acid methionine. There …