Prepare for the Foundations of Biology Exam 1. Dive into key biological concepts with multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Ace the exam with our efficient study methods!

Multiple Choice

Proteins are polymers of how many different amino acids?

Proteins are polymers built from amino acids, and there are twenty standard amino acids that are used to make proteins in most organisms. The genetic code specifies these twenty distinct building blocks, and their different side chains give proteins a wide range of chemical properties that allow them to fold into diverse shapes and carry out countless functions. While some organisms can incorporate two additional special amino acids, selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, in a few specific proteins, they are not part of the usual set. So the typical number of different amino acids in proteins is twenty.

Proteins are polymers built from amino acids, and there are twenty standard amino acids that are used to make proteins in most organisms. The genetic code specifies these twenty distinct building blocks, and their different side chains give proteins a wide range of chemical properties that allow them to fold into diverse shapes and carry out countless functions. While some organisms can incorporate two additional special amino acids, selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, in a few specific proteins, they are not part of the usual set. So the typical number of different amino acids in proteins is twenty.