What are amino acid? Explain essential and non - essential amino acids.

Explanation

(i) An amino acid is bifunctional organic molecule that contains both a carboxyl group, - COOH as well as an amine g roup, - `NH_(2)`
(ii) Those amino acids that cannot be synthesised by the body and must be supplied in the diet are called essential amino acids.
(iii) The amino acids that can be synthesised from other compounds by the tissues of the body are called non-essential amino acids.