Energy storage, Biology

Assignment Help:

Energy Storage

As we said above, food intake and energy expenditure for animals is approximately equal. If energy expenditure exceeds food intake, then the excess energy is taken up by utilisation of body fat. However, if food intake is excess, then the surplus is stored as fat irrespective of the kind of food eaten. Excess carbohydrates are changed to fats and accordingly RQ exceeds 1. This is because fats contain relatively less oxygen and the excess oxygen of carbohydrates is used in the metabolism. This reduces the oxygen uptake and the respiratory carbon dioxide, oxygen ratio is increased. For this reason fat is ideal storage material for energy. It is much lighter and yields twice as much energy as carbohydrates.

Migratory birds that may have to fly more than 1000 km non-stop, carry fat as 40% to 50% of their body weight. Nonetheless, some carbohydrates are important in energy storage. Glycogen a starch-like carbohydrate polymer is stored as granules in the skeletal muscles and liver of vertebrates. During heavy muscular exercise when blood does not deliver sufficient oxygen to meet demands, glycogen provides the energy. It is broken down directly into glucose-6-phosphate, providing fuel for carbohydrate metabolism more directly than does fat, On the other hand, many animals that do not move about, also store glycogen as excess energy source. For example, clams, oysters and many intestinal parasites like Ascaris use glycogen as the storage material. These animals have to face anaerobic conditions and in such situations glycogen breaks down to acetic acid to yield energy.


Related Discussions:- Energy storage

Explain about thiol proteases, Explain about thiol proteases Group of  ...

Explain about thiol proteases Group of  thiol proteases, similar in structure to each other, are found in plants. These include  papain from the papaya fruit and  ficain from f

Explain the energy - releasing metabolic process, The energy - releasing me...

The energy - releasing metabolic process in which substrate is oxidised without an external electron acceptor is known as: 1. Glycolysis 2. Fermentation 3. Aerobic respira

Phylum Protozoa, Summary of the Phylum and protozoa and the important

Summary of the Phylum and protozoa and the important

What is lipid-lowering trial, Q. What is Lipid-lowering Trial? Aggressi...

Q. What is Lipid-lowering Trial? Aggressive lipid-lowering drug treatment of persons at various risk levels reduces Coronary Artery Disease morbidity and mortality rates and in

Illustrate the applications of vitamin D, Illustrate the Applications of Vi...

Illustrate the Applications of Vitamin D Vitamin D 2 is mainly used in the preparation of various drug formulations. For the animal feed industry, a mineral stable dry powder

Non-recurrent type, Non-recurrent Type As mentioned earlier it refers...

Non-recurrent Type As mentioned earlier it refers to embryo development in reduced embryo sacs. The mechanisms identified for such cases are: Reduced Pseudogamy : The

What are catalysts, Catalysts are substances that decrease the activation e...

Catalysts are substances that decrease the activation energy of a chemical reaction, facilitating it or making it energetically viable. The catalyst enhances the speed of the chemi

Structural variations in vertebrate kidney, Normal 0 false fa...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Illustrate the metabolism of cornea, Illustrate the metabolism of cornea? ...

Illustrate the metabolism of cornea? Metabolism of Cornea: The corneal epithelium plays several roles in the process of image formation. Its apical cell border interacts

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