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

Explain etiology, Etiology Fevers can be caused due to 1. Internal (...

Etiology Fevers can be caused due to 1. Internal (endogenous) factors:  This could be caused within the body. Examples are antigen-antibody reactions, malignant cancer, graf

Define the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin e, Define the Recommend...

Define the Recommended Dietary Allowance of Vitamin E? The requirements for the vitamin E are expressed in terms of tocopherol equivalents (TE) as mentioned earlier - 8 mg fo

Cholesterol question, If an infant had a cholesterol level of 800 you may s...

If an infant had a cholesterol level of 800 you may suspect (blank)? How could this happen?d

What are vitamins, What are vitamins? What are the main vitamins needed by ...

What are vitamins? What are the main vitamins needed by humans? Most vitamins are coenzymes (fundamental substances for the enzyme functioning) that are not formed by the organ

Define reagents estimation of iron in the solution, Define Reagents Estimat...

Define Reagents Estimation of Iron in the Solution? 1. Conc. sulphuric acid (iron free) 2. Conc. potassium permanganate solution 3. Saturated potassium persulphate (K 2 S

Fungai, introduction in fungai

introduction in fungai

Explain asteroid impacts, Asteroid impacts: The hypothesis which links cer...

Asteroid impacts: The hypothesis which links certain mass extinction events with the impact of the comet or asteroid, most particularly the mass extinction 65 million years which

Plasma membrane proteins, Integral plasma membrane proteins are also synthe...

Integral plasma membrane proteins are also synthesized by ribosomes on the RER, but become inserted in the rough endoplasmic reticulum membrane rather than transported into the lum

Explain precautions for performing completed coliform test, Explain Precaut...

Explain Precautions for Performing the Completed Coliform Test 1. Aseptic conditions should be adopted while performing the experiment. 2. Destaining is the critical step in

Conjugation - patterns of sexual reproduction, Conjugation - Patterns of Se...

Conjugation - Patterns of Sexual Reproduction Conjugation is a temporary union among two individuals of the same species, during which the original macronucleus disintegrates,

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