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

Filariasis, Filariasis Filariasis is a chronic infection caused by filarid...

Filariasis Filariasis is a chronic infection caused by filarid worms. Around 10 species of Filaridae family are parasitic to man. Adult worms live in the tissues or body cavities

Atp molecules are produced for each glucose molecule, How many ATP molecule...

How many ATP molecules are produced for each glucose molecule used in fermentation? How many ATP molecules are produced for each glucose molecule used in aerobic respiration? I

Ecology, what is an ecosystem energy pathway

what is an ecosystem energy pathway

Mercury, M e rc u r y The metal is biologically non-essential but ...

M e rc u r y The metal is biologically non-essential but being used in various industries, it is released in environment from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Man-m

Relationship of ecology with other disciplines of biology, Relationship of ...

Relationship of Ecology with Other Disciplines of Biology In order to understand the scope and relevance of ecology let us consider its position in relation to other biological

Explain the concepts of brain development, Explain the concepts of brain de...

Explain the concepts of brain development Two concepts that are especially critical to understanding brain development in the very young child are: Symbolic representati

Cholesterol, Cholesterol Cholesterol is found in several of the animal ...

Cholesterol Cholesterol is found in several of the animal foods we eat, involving cheese, eggs, and red meat. Just animal cells utilize and synthesize cholesterol. Click the bu

Explain the dietary fibre and colon cancer, Explain the Dietary fibre and c...

Explain the Dietary fibre and colon cancer? The relationship between colorectal cancer and dietary fibre remains complex. Although a cause-and-effect relationship between fibre

Expalain briefly vitamin A, Vitamin A (Retinol) Purified vitamin A is a...

Vitamin A (Retinol) Purified vitamin A is a viscous yellowish oil. It is freely soluble in most organic solvents such as methanol, ether, acetone, chloroform and petroleum ethe

Nutrition, The oxidation of sugar in the cell of higher organisms takes pla...

The oxidation of sugar in the cell of higher organisms takes place in the where

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