With the advent of the use of precise ion accelerators for medical purposes, it becomes ever more important to understand the interaction of biomolecules with fast ions.  Glycine is both a protein component and a model biomolecule, and is thus an important test system.    In this report, we discuss various aspects of the theoretical evaluation of the properties of energy deposition associated with the collision of fast ions with glycine and its zwitterions, including differences due to molecular conformation and orientation with respect to the ion beam direction as well as due to the effect of surrounding water molecules and the state of target aggregation.    Quantum mechanical calculations, which yield the dipole oscillator strength distribution of glycine are reported. The ease with which energy is absorbed from a fast ion, described by the mean excitation energy and stopping power of glycine, is reported and discussed.