MCAT Biochemistry — Quick Drills: Amino Acids flashcards
10 of 80 cards free to study here · 5 topics · the whole deck is built into Willys
Rapid one-line drills on all 20 amino acids: one-letter and three-letter codes, side-chain class, the nine essential amino acids, and the special cases the MCAT returns to.
Drills deck · part of MCAT · written against: AAMC MCAT content outline (2015 exam, current through 2026). Updated 2026-10-10.
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Which amino acid has the one-letter code G?GlycineOne-Letter Codes
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Which amino acid has the one-letter code A?AlanineOne-Letter Codes
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Which amino acid is abbreviated Gly?Glycine (G)Three-Letter Codes
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Which amino acid is abbreviated Ala?Alanine (A)Three-Letter Codes
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Which side-chain class does glycine belong to?Nonpolar — side chain is a lone HSide-Chain Classes
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Which side-chain class does alanine belong to?Nonpolar — methyl side chainSide-Chain Classes
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How many of the 20 standard amino acids are essential in the adult diet?NineEssential Amino Acids
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Is threonine essential or nonessential for adults?EssentialEssential Amino Acids
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Which standard amino acid has no chiral α-carbon?Glycine — two H atoms on the α-carbonSpecial Cases
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Which amino acid's side chain bonds back to its own backbone nitrogen?Proline — a secondary amine, helix breakerSpecial Cases
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About these cards
Review status: Second-reader reviewed, with corrections applied.
Checked against:
- OpenStax Biology 2e, consulted as a reference; no text copied.
- Facts cross-checked against Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 8th ed. (reference only; no text copied).
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