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

Describe the ideal primary stability, Less than ideal Primary Stability ...

Less than ideal Primary Stability Faulty osteotomy (a bigger osteotomy than required for the selected diameter of implant) can result when excessive force is used to disengage

How does the structure of a chloroplast enable, How does the structure of a...

How does the structure of a chloroplast enable it to build up a concentration gradient of protons?  Chloroplasts have an inner membrane system having of thylakoids. The pumpin

Arthropoda phylum, characteristic of spider that makes it the phylum arthro...

characteristic of spider that makes it the phylum arthropoda?

Biosynthesis of cholesterol, Animals are able to synthesize cholesterol de ...

Animals are able to synthesize cholesterol de novo by an elegant series of reactions in that all 27 carbon atoms of cholesterol are derived from acetyl CoA. The  acetate  units  ar

Rational in individual patient, Thiazide diuretics have been accepted as th...

Thiazide diuretics have been accepted as the primary foundation of antihypertensive therapy. The basis of this choice is that, apart from their primary hypotensive effect, they enh

Define clinical assessment for vitamin a, Define Clinical Assessment For Vi...

Define Clinical Assessment For Vitamin A? Clinical features of deficiency occur as ocular and extra ocular lesions. Ocular lesions affect the posterior segment of the eye init

Weight of plants - quantitative characters, Weight of Plants - Quantitative...

Weight of Plants - Quantitative Characters Weight is one of the most important quantitative characteristics of plants. Quantitatively growth is best measured on the basis of d

Describe pulsation in cardian examination, Describe Pulsation in cardian ex...

Describe Pulsation in cardian examination? 1) Apex impulse; lowest and outermost point of definite cardiac pulsation. 2) Prominent pulsations in left parasternal region suggest

Explain the peptones - complex media, Explain the Peptones - Complex Media?...

Explain the Peptones - Complex Media? Peptones are protein hydrolysates obtained by partial digestion of meat, casein, soya meal, gelatin or other protein source. These provide

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