Why is nitrogen essential to life

Amino acids are the building blocks of all proteins. Proteins comprise not only structural components such as muscle, tissue and organs, but also enzymes and hormones essential for the functioning of all living things. Urea is a byproduct of protein digestion. We use the term "organic nitrogen" to describe a nitrogen compound that had its origin in living material. The nitrogen in protein and urea is organic nitrogen.

Organic nitrogen can enter septic systems as bodily wastes, discarded food material, or as components of cleaning agents. Many of the transformations of nitrogen are mediated by bacteria that use different forms of nitrogen to fuel some of their metabolic processes.

These processes are called ammonification. DNA uses nitrogen bases as an essential part of its coding system. Without nitrogen it is impossible for the cell to make DNA. So the nitrogen fixing bacteria that pull nitrogen out of the atmosphere are in a way the basis for all other life. RNA uses all but one of the same nitrogen bases. The most common message carried by the RNA is to make proteins. All proteins have an acid end and an amnio end.

The amino end is made of nitrogen. Much of this reactive nitrogen has accummulated in the environment, where it causes a series of negative impacts to human and ecossytem health. Major sources of this reactive nitrogen include agriculture and the burning of fossil fuels. It also affects human health, including respiratory disease and an increased risk for birth defects.

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