How many amino acids are found in living organisms?

Amino acids are a crucial, yet basic unit of protein, and they contain an amino group and a carboxylic group. They play an extensive role in gene expression processes.

Amino acids become proteins when 50 or more are bonded together in a chain. All the millions of different proteins in living things are formed by the bonding of only 20 amino acids.

Eight of these amino acids are essential and cannot be produced by the body.

They are:

• Leucine

• Isoleucine

• Lysine

• Threonine

• Methionine

• Phenylalanine

• Valine

• Tryptophan

•  Histidine is an amino acid that is categorized as semi-essential since the human body doesn't always need it to properly function

Nonessential amino acids are produced by the human body either from essential amino acids or from normal protein breakdowns. Nonessential amino acids include:

• Asparagine

• Alanine

• Arginine

• Aspartic acid

• Cysteine

• Glutamic acid

• Glutamine

• Proline

• Glycine

• Tyrosine

• Serine.