An organic nutrient that cannot be synthesized by the organism and must be provided in the diet is called a/an:

• A. essential amino acid
• B. fatty acid
• C. peptide bond
• D. nonessential amino acid

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the definition of an organic nutrient. Organic nutrients are compounds containing carbon that are essential for life and are typically obtained from food.
2. Step 2: Recognize the key phrase in the problem: 'cannot be synthesized by the organism and must be provided in the diet.' This indicates that the nutrient is essential for the organism's survival but cannot be produced internally.
3. Step 3: Review the options provided: essential amino acid, fatty acid, peptide bond, and nonessential amino acid. Eliminate peptide bond, as it is a chemical bond and not a nutrient. Similarly, nonessential amino acids can be synthesized by the organism, so they do not fit the criteria.
4. Step 4: Compare the remaining options: essential amino acid and fatty acid. Essential amino acids are organic nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the organism and must be obtained through the diet. Fatty acids can also be essential, but the term 'essential amino acid' is more specific to the definition provided in the question.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct answer is 'essential amino acid,' as it directly matches the description of an organic nutrient that must be provided in the diet and cannot be synthesized by the organism.