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

Define the statement -eyes absent protein, Which of the following is a true...

Which of the following is a true statement regarding the Eyes Absent Protein? A. EYA is a transcriptional activator that having both a DNA binding domain and a transactivation

biodegrade xenobiotic compounds , Xenobiotic compounds are man-made chemi...

Xenobiotic compounds are man-made chemicals that are present in the environment at unnaturally high concentrations. The xenobiotic compounds are either not produced naturally, o

Energy budget - ecosystem, Energy Budget - Ecosystem All living things...

Energy Budget - Ecosystem All living things must take in and use energy to maintain their bodies, to grow, to obtain more energy and to reproduce. Each individual has an 'ener

Production of organic material for the energetic metabolism, Q. How are bac...

Q. How are bacteria classified as per the production of organic material for the energetic metabolism? Most bacteria are heterotroph they do not produce their own food, there a

Why is blood important for larger animals, Q What is the alternative means ...

Q What is the alternative means for transport of substances in animals without a circulatory system? Why is blood important for larger animals? In animals that don't present th

Enhancing the bio-availability of minerals, Mineral supplements and Mineral...

Mineral supplements and Mineral supplements and enhancing the bio-availability of minerals The proper balance of protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals is needed in the ratio

Exterrral and internal environment, Exterrral and Internal Environment Le...

Exterrral and Internal Environment Let us try to understand the concept of environment with some examples. Can you identify the environment of a single carp fish in the pond? It

Permanent partial disability - injury from an accident, Permanent Partial D...

Permanent Partial Disability - Injury from an Accident Permanent partial disability restrains the worker by doing the job he has been doing. He recovers from the injury in th

What has caused evolution, What has caused evolution? 1) Different indi...

What has caused evolution? 1) Different individuals have dissimilar characteristics 2) These differences result in altering abilities to reproduce under local circumstances

Feed adulterants, Feed adulterants Adulteration of raw material is cre...

Feed adulterants Adulteration of raw material is creating a serious problem for manufacturing the good quality feed as the trading of raw ingredients is totally in unorganized

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