Sometimes these are also considered members of the immediate family, depending on an individual's specific relationship. In most societies, the family is the principal institution for the socialization of children.
Nucleic acids also typically contain phosphorous, and nitrogen plays an important structural role in nucleic acids and proteins. The proteins, being made up a diverse set of amino acids, have, in addition to carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, the elements sulfur and selenium. It is incredible the complex array of macromolecules that can be built starting with these simple elements. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Nucleic Acids. Amino acids on the other hand are the building blocks of our proteins. All proteins are made of alpha amino acids. They consist of a carboxylic acid (-COOH) and an amino (-NH2) functional group attached to the same tetrahedral carbon atom. This carbon is the a-carbon. Distinct R-groups, that distinguish one amino acid from another, also are attached to the alpha-carbon (except in the case of glycine where the R-group is hydrogen). The fourth substitution on the tetrahedral a-carbon of amino acids is hydrogen.