Amino acids: Building blocks or hazards?

At K-State, one of my favorite classes to teach is Fundamentals of Nutrition. This class is required by all students majoring in animal science and requires at least one college-level prerequisite course in chemistry. I love teaching it because the course is usually the first class that students begin to connect fundamental sciences, like chemistry and physics, with their area of interest, like animal health. The content is heavy on chemical structures and metabolic cycles, so it can be dry if not taught in a manner that is interesting and relevant to students.