What are essential amino acids? Write the names of the amino acids that are essential for humans.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, critical for countless functions in the human body. Amino acid synthesis refers to the process through which these compounds are formed within the body or by other organisms. However, not all amino acids can be synthesized by the human body. Some must be acquired through diet and are termed 'essential'. The human body lacks the necessary enzymes to construct these essential amino acids, decreeing a dietary need. This revelation underpins the importance of a balanced diet that includes a variety of proteins to ensure an ample supply of these crucial nutrients.

In contrast to essential amino acids, 'non-essential' amino acids are those that the body can manufacture from other available compounds. An interesting fact to consider is the principle known as 'conditional essentiality', where certain non-essential amino acids become essential under specific physiological conditions, such as illness or stress. When considering amino acid synthesis in biochemistry, it is vital to understand that the pathways involved are complex and must balance the synthesizing of non-essential amino acids while ensuring the intake of essential ones.

Human nutrition is a vast field that deals with how the nutrients in food are processed, stored, and used by our bodies. From the standpoint of amino acids, nutrition science emphasizes the need for an adequate intake of essential amino acids through diet. As proteins from our diet are broken down during digestion, these essential amino acids become available for the body to use.

These amino acids are then deployed to perform a vast array of functions, including tissue repair, muscle building, neurotransmitter production, and immune function. To maintain optimal health, a varied diet that includes protein sources like meats, dairy, eggs, quinoa, and legumes — all rich in essential amino acids — is recommended. It's worth highlighting that dietary requirements can differ between individuals based on age, sex, physical activity level, and overall health, necessitating a tailored approach to nutrition to ensure all essential amino acids are consumed in sufficient quantities.

Biochemistry is the study of the chemical processes within and related to living organisms. It's a discipline that bridges biology and chemistry and provides insights into how molecular pathways operate. When examining essential amino acids through the lens of biochemistry, we delve into protein synthesis, enzyme function, gene expression, and energy production. The biochemistry of amino acids illuminates how these molecules are used to create proteins with diverse structures and functions.

Each essential amino acid contributes distinct properties to proteins, affecting their shape, stability, and function. Biochemical pathways highlight how the absence of any single essential amino acid can result in incomplete proteins, which could disrupt various physiological processes. Therefore, understanding biochemistry can back the reasoning of nutritional recommendations and explain the consequences on a cellular level if the diet lacks any of the nine essential amino acids: Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, and Valine. For students of biochemistry, grasping the role of these amino acids is pivotal in appreciating their significance in health and disease management.