Are there 20 or 25 amino acids? Unpacking the Proteinogenic Question
•
3 min read
Over 500 amino acids have been identified in nature, yet the number central to genetics is often debated. The simple answer to "are there 20 or 25 amino acids?" is that neither number tells the whole story, as it depends on whether one is referring to the standard building blocks of proteins or the total number of genetically encoded amino acids. This nuance is crucial for understanding the diversity of life on a molecular level.
