The process through which excess amino acids in the body are broken down into urea and a carbohydrate is called

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the name of the process that breaks down excess amino acids into urea and a carbohydrate. The body cannot store amino acids, so the excess has to be processed.

Step 2: Explain the concept This happens in the liver. The amino group (–NH₂) is removed from the amino acid. This removal is called deamination.

• The amino group is converted to ammonia, which is then converted to urea (via the ornithine cycle). The urea is carried by the blood to the kidneys and excreted in urine.
• The rest of the amino acid, which has no nitrogen, becomes a carbohydrate-type compound. It can be respired for energy or converted to glycogen or fat.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Deamination: Correct. It is the removal of the amino group from amino acids.
• B. Denaturation: This is the loss of an enzyme's or protein's shape, usually from heat or pH change. It is not the breakdown of amino acids.
• C. Detoxication: This is the conversion of harmful substances such as alcohol and drugs into harmless ones. It is a different liver function.
• D. Emulsification: This is the breaking of fats into tiny droplets by bile. It is unrelated to amino acids.
• E. Excretion: This is the removal of metabolic waste from the body. Urea is excreted, but excretion does not describe the breakdown of amino acids.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is A. Deamination.

Exam tip: Remember "De-amin-ation = removing the amine group." The prefix de- means "remove" and amino refers to the amino group. Also remember that the liver does deamination, detoxication, and bile production, so be careful not to mix them up in the exam.