Urea
Biology: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 13.1.2
Urea
Urea needs to be removed from the body because it is toxic. When there is too much urea in the bloodstream, it can harm cells and tissues.
Amino acids
- Urea is formed when the digestion of protein results in an excess of amino acids, which can't be stored in the body.
Deamination
- In the liver, the amino acids undergo deamination. This process removes the nitrogen-containing parts and yields ammonia as a waste product.
Ammonia
- The ammonia is then converted into urea, which is much less toxic, and excreted from the body as urine.
Assimilation
- The liver also assimilates amino acids, before converting them into proteins such as fibrinogen.
Test yourself on Urea
Where does deamination take place?
Production of Urea