Carbohydrates, Biology

Assignment Help:

Carbohydrates

Fifty five to seventy per cent of the required energy in animals is derived from carbohydrates. However, fats and proteins can also be broken down and used for supplying energy. In most animals this happens only when the dietary intake of carbohydrates is low. In contrast, Drosophila uses only carbohydrates as a source of energy for its flight muscles and when the supply is exhausted the insect cannot fly even though it uses stored fat for other metabolic processes. Whereas, locusts are known to use only lipids for their long migratory flights. Most animals, however, use a variety of hexose sugars like glucose, fructose, mannose, and galactose as interchangeable sources of energy.

In this way no particular carbohydrate is really considered essential in a way similar to amino acids. But even if no carbohydrate is considered essential, growth of certain animals will be better on one type of sugar than on another. This can be explained better by the results of the following experiment. Young locusts showed that when dietary sugar was maltose growth was maximum or optimum and growth was minimum when no carbohydrate was given. Other sugars supported sub-optimal growth. What could be the reason for this difference? One of the main causes is the difference in the rate of movement of sugars across the gut wall into the blood. From the above experiment we can conclude that certain insects have a preference for a certain carbohydrate which can be called an essential or preferred nutrient. In the above experiment with locusts, maltose was the preferred nutrient.


Related Discussions:- Carbohydrates

Microtubule assembly, Microtubule assembly: A) generally originates in the ...

Microtubule assembly: A) generally originates in the centrosome. B) occurs only during mitosis. C) occurs randomly throughout the cell. D) is regulated by myosin. E) is inhibited d

Respiratory insufficiency and respiratory failure, Respiratory Insufficienc...

Respiratory Insufficiency Respiratory insufficiency usually indicate inadequate exchange of oxygen and carbondioxide to meet the needs of the body during normal activities.

Locomotion in earthworm, LOCOMOTION IN EARTHWORM - By contrection & rel...

LOCOMOTION IN EARTHWORM - By contrection & relaxation of muscles waves are formed in body, generally from posterior to anterior. Setae are helpfull in locomotion. Rate of lo

Photosynthetic function, Photosynthetic function Structural organisa...

Photosynthetic function Structural organisation of the leaf is suitable to perform the process of photosynthesis. Hence leaf is called as a food factory. The leaf has a l

Define clinical progress for treatment for pem, Define Clinical progress fo...

Define Clinical progress for treatment for pem? Normally, clinical improvement is evident within a week with the disappearance of oedema, The appetite improves almost dramatica

Meiosis, MEIOSIS Every  organism is mortal, It  becomes  old and wornou...

MEIOSIS Every  organism is mortal, It  becomes  old and wornout  with advancing age  (= ageing )  and ultimately dies ,Before  death   however  ,it reproduces its own  kind, so

How are mineral salts-water and food transported to plant, How are mineral ...

How are mineral salts, water and food (sugar) transported throughout the plant? Mineral salts, Water and sugar are transported throughout the plant through conductive vessels f

How many carbon dioxide molecules are liberated, How many carbon dioxide mo...

How many carbon dioxide molecules are liberated after each cycle of the Krebs cycle? For a single glucose how many carbon dioxide molecules were already liberated by the aerobic re

Retroviral method for gene transfer, R e troviral method: A retrovi...

R e troviral method: A retrovirus is a virus that carries its genetic material in the form of RNA rather than DNA. In this method retroviruses are used as vectors to transf

Explain tertiary butylhydroquinone, Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) T...

Tertiary Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) TBHQ is moderately soluble in oil and slightly soluble in water. In many cases, TBHQ is more effective than any other antioxidant in providing

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd