This image illustrates the general structure of an amino acid.The central carbon atom (C) is bonded to a hydrogen atom (H), an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), and a variable side chain (R ...

Scientists have detected organic compounds and minerals necessary for life in the samples collected by the OSIRIS-REx mission ...

In fact, each gene in cellular DNA contains the code for a unique protein structure. Not only are these proteins assembled with different amino acid sequences, but they also are held together by ...

Scientists have long believed they understood how life’s genetic code evolved, but new research upends that assumption. By ...

The specific structure of a protein determines its unique biological function. (click on image to enlarge) (Image: National Human Genom Research Institute) Proteins are built from a set of 20 standard ...

Achievement of a metabolic balance of plasma and intracellular amino acid availability requires a coordinated inter-organ metabolism of synthetic and catabolic pathways, naturally established in ...

The building blocks for life, including salts, organic matter and amino acids have been found in samples returned to Earth ...