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

Oogenesis, in human and mammals how many cells result from oogenesis

in human and mammals how many cells result from oogenesis

Tissue, what is the location of connective tissues in our body

what is the location of connective tissues in our body

Determine the occurrence of vitamin A, Determine the Occurrence of vitamin ...

Determine the Occurrence of vitamin A In the vegetable kingdom, vitamin A  probably occurs in the form of its provitamins which belong to the group of carotenes. Carrots, spina

Which is the normal sign of the electric charge, Which is the normal sign o...

Which is the normal sign of the electric charge among the two sides of the neuron plasma membrane? What is the potential difference (voltage) generated among these two sides? What

Floriculture, Floriculture: This is the cultivation and development of com...

Floriculture: This is the cultivation and development of commercially important floral plants like rose, lilies, etc. Floriculture is called flower farming is a discipline of hort

What is excretion, What is excretion? Excretion in Physiology is the me...

What is excretion? Excretion in Physiology is the method of elimination of metabolic wastes and other toxic substances from the body.

Blood plasma - circulation, Blood Plasma - Circulation Centrifugation...

Blood Plasma - Circulation Centrifugation of blood results in its separation into two portions - a packed mass of cells which constitute around 45 per cent of the volume of t

Representation of the metabolism, Biological effects: Aflatoxins are acute ...

Biological effects: Aflatoxins are acute hepatotoxins and are known to be carcinogenic in some animal species as rat. Aflatoxin B1 is acutely toxic and is responsible for liver nec

Protozoa phylum, wht is the main quality of this phylum

wht is the main quality of this phylum

Cryobiology, Cryobiology : This is the study of life at low temperature. Cr...

Cryobiology : This is the study of life at low temperature. Cryobiology is that branch of biology which studies the effects of low temperatures on living things. Cryobiology scienc

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