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 flow or recovery period -dietary management for burn, Explain the F...

Explain the Flow or Recovery Period - Dietary Management for Burns? After 48 to 72 hours, fluids and electrolytes are reabsorbed into the general circulation and excess fluid i

Congestive heart failure (chf), C o ngestive heart failure (CHF) The ...

C o ngestive heart failure (CHF) The heart is unable to maintain circulatory equilibrium at rest and congestion of venous circuit takes place followed by dilatation of vessel

Functions of plasma proteins, Functions of Plasma Proteins The protein...

Functions of Plasma Proteins The proteins of the plasma serve several important functions. They exert osmotic pressure varying from 25 to 30 mm Hg, which regulate

Artificial parthenogenesis, Artificial Parthenogenesis In various cas...

Artificial Parthenogenesis In various cases, the eggs that normally develop only after fertilisation can be experimentally induced to develop parthenogenetically by specific

Determine the procedure of armamentarium, Determine the Procedure of Armame...

Determine the Procedure of Armamentarium 1. Make an impression of the mandibular ridge and pour the cast in type 3 gypsum 2. Apply separating medium and allow it to dry 3

Define the role of fluorine in human body, Define the role of Fluorine in H...

Define the role of Fluorine in Human Body? Fluorine is potentially a toxic element. Its essentiality for humans is not established although the role of fluoride in providing pr

Noise pollution, Sound is a main mean of communication and entertainment an...

Sound is a main mean of communication and entertainment and is also very effective alarm system for some animal. A loud and unwanted or unpleasant sound causes discomfort and is ca

Floral initiation, Floral Initiation Activation is generally most mar...

Floral Initiation Activation is generally most marked in the central zone of the meristems. Most of the responses following inductive treatment have been recorded in differen

What is the water cycle, What is the water cycle? The water cycle repre...

What is the water cycle? The water cycle represents the circulation and recycling of water in nature. Liquid water on the planet surface is heated by the sun and turns into

Explain herbicide tolerant crops, Explain herbicide tolerant  crops C...

Explain herbicide tolerant  crops Candidates who reached the scholarship standard demonstrated a wide general knowledge of the living  world to which they could relate biologi

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