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

Describe the electron transport system, a) Describe the electron transport ...

a) Describe the electron transport system. Where does it happen in a mitochondrion and what is the role of oxygen in it ? b) Explain the events that happen in the human heart du

Neural circuits, Neural Circuits The simple all are none activities of...

Neural Circuits The simple all are none activities of a single neuron can hardly provide the adaptability needed for the constant changes faced by the organism in its internal

Kin and group selection, Before we proceed to discuss kin selection we shou...

Before we proceed to discuss kin selection we should define the term altruism. It refers to the behaviour pattern of an individual in the population for the benefit of other member

Horse diseases-african horse sickness, African horse sickness African h...

African horse sickness African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly fatal insect born viral disease of equidae caused by an Orbivirus (family Reoviridae) and characterized by sever

Person and being, What evidence is there that makes it seem humans have mor...

What evidence is there that makes it seem humans have more than a material existence?

Relapse and recurrence, Relapse of infective endocarditis usually occurs wi...

Relapse of infective endocarditis usually occurs within two months of the discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy. The relapse rate for patients with native-valve endocarditis cau

Results of pericardial diseases, Results :  Pericardiectomy used to have a...

Results :  Pericardiectomy used to have a mortality of 10-15 per cent in the earlier era. At present it is around 3 to 5 per cent and does not approach 0 per cent even though it

What is the role of primary consumers, What is the role of primary consumer...

What is the role of primary consumers in a food chain? Give an example of a primary consumer in a terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem.

Community-based health insurance systems, Normal 0 false fals...

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

What are the centrioles, Q. Into which periods is mitosis has divided? ...

Q. Into which periods is mitosis has divided? Mitosis is divided into four periods: metaphase, prophase, telophase and anaphase. Q. What are the centrioles and in which typ

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