When amino groups occur in organic substances (such as amino acids), they are generally attached to a carbon atom. It is the SIDE GROUPS which make each amino acid different from the others. Of the 20 amino acids used to make proteins, there are three groups.
Also asked, what makes the 20 amino acids different?
Describe what makes each of the 20 amino acids found in proteins unique. All amino acids are structurally the same, in that they contain a central carbon atom, an amine group, a lone hydrogen at. The thing that is different about each of the 20 amino acids is the make-up of the R group.
What distinguishes the 20 amino acids from each other?
Central carbon (known as the "alpha carbon") is tetrahedral and chiral (i.e. each of the four functional groups are different) The "R" functional group is known as the amino acid "side chain". There are 20 common different amino acid side chains. This is what distinguishes one amino acid from another.
What is the main difference between the various amino acids?
What is the difference between a protein and an amino acid? The beads (amino acids) are connected together by a string (bond), which forms a long chain (protein). Therefore, a protein is "intact" or "whole." Proteins are connected together; free amino acids are not.