Question

Explain why gelatin, which is mostly collagen, is nutritionally inferior to other types of protein.

Short answer

Gelatin is formed from collagen, which contains mostly three kinds of amino acids- Gly-Pro-Hyp. Thus, gelatin does not contain a variety of amino acids and serves as nutritionally inferior to other types of proteins that contain a greater variety of amino acids.

Step-by-step solution

Gelatin.

Gelatin is a fibrous protein, mainly formed from collagen, which consists of mostly a monotonous repetition of three amino acids- Gly-Pro-Hyp.

Amino acid composition in gelatin.

Due to the repetitive sequence of amino acid, about 1/3^rdof the amino acids present in gelatin is Gly, whereas 2/3^rdof the amino acids are Pro or Pro-derivative (mostly Hyp).

Gelatin is inferior to other proteins.

Due to the presence of only three kinds of amino acids, gelatin does not serve as a protein that contains a variety of amino acids. Thus, Gelatin is not a good source of amino acids, and is inferior to the proteins that contain a greater variety of amino acids.