In which of the following amino acid . R . group is a " Hydroxy methyl " moeity ?

Options

A. Serine
B. Glycine
C. Alanine
D. Valine

Answer

To determine which amino acid has a hydroxymethyl moiety in its R group, we can analyze the options given: serine, glycine, alanine, and valine.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Structure of Amino Acids**:
- Amino acids consist of a central carbon atom (C) bonded to four groups: an amino group (-NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), a hydrogen atom (H), and a variable R group (side chain) that defines the specific amino acid.

2. **Identify the R Groups of Each Amino Acid**:
- **Serine (Ser)**: The R group is -CH2OH (hydroxymethyl group).
- **Glycine (Gly)**: The R group is simply a hydrogen atom (-H).
- **Alanine (Ala)**: The R group is -CH3 (methyl group).
- **Valine (Val)**: The R group is -CH(CH3)2 (isopropyl group).

3. **Determine Which R Group Contains Hydroxymethyl**:
- The hydroxymethyl moiety consists of a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a methyl group (-CH3).
- In the case of serine, the R group is -CH2OH, which includes the hydroxymethyl moiety.

4. **Conclusion**:
- Among the options provided, serine is the amino acid that contains a hydroxymethyl moiety in its R group. Therefore, the correct answer is **serine**.

### Final Answer:
**Serine (Option A)** has a hydroxymethyl moiety in its R group.

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