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

Which functional groups ionization stabilized by resonance, In which of the...

In which of the following functional groups ionization is stabilized by resonance? Select one: a. Carboxyl b. Hydroxyl c. Amine d. Aldehyde e. All of the above

Explain the concepts of chromosome, How are the concepts of chromosome, chr...

How are the concepts of chromosome, chromatin and chromatids related? In which phase of the cell cycle does DNA duplicate? Chromatin is a set of filamentous DNA molecules dispe

Mountain forest ecosystem as life support systems, Mountains and their fore...

Mountains and their forest ecosystems are regarded as the water towers of the world. A good example is the extraordinarily massive Himalayan Mountains which have shaped the climate

Define carbohydrates needs in postoperative nutritional care, Define Carboh...

Define Carbohydrates needs in Postoperative Nutritional Care? Carbohydrates ensure the use of protein for tissue synthesis and energy required for increased metabolic demands.

Promoters - transgenic animals, Promoters The promoter region contains ...

Promoters The promoter region contains the DNA sequences that allow the formation of the transcription initiation complex that give the specificity of expression. Promoters are

What is multi-gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography, Q. What is Multi-...

Q. What is Multi-gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography? Multi-gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography (MUGA) is a very accurate method in measuring ejection fraction. R

Features of the gastrulation, Features of the Gastrulation The signifi...

Features of the Gastrulation The significant features of the gastrulation are: a) Proteins of many new types that were not present in the egg or blastula begin to be synthe

How do taenias classify according to the division of sexes, How do taenias ...

How do taenias classify according to the division of sexes? Taenias are monoecious (hermaphrodite), the similar individual has female and male reproductive organs and undergoes

Explain phytoestrogens, Phytoestrogens:- A group of compounds considere...

Phytoestrogens:- A group of compounds considered to offer protection against cancer.

Zoonoses disease-tanapox, Tanapox Tanapox infection is endemic to equatori...

Tanapox Tanapox infection is endemic to equatorial Africa and is extremely rare outside Africa. Tanapox was initially recognized in humans in 1957 and 1962 in Kenya. It is caused

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