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 the genioglossus, Genioglossus Originates from superior genial ...

Genioglossus Originates from superior genial tubercles which are located near the crest of the alveolar ridge in atrophic mandible. Therefore, one should be aware of it during

Blood sampling , BLOOD SAMPLING : In blood sampling, the skin is deliberat...

BLOOD SAMPLING : In blood sampling, the skin is deliberately punctured in order to take a blood sample for analysis. If this is done carelessly, it is easy for microorganisms eith

Expression of variability, In the previous sub-section we discussed the pos...

In the previous sub-section we discussed the possible ways by which variabiliti can, be generated. We shall now examine one instance that illustrates the consequence of variability

Explain law of segregation, Which of the below terms laws best describes th...

Which of the below terms laws best describes the statement: Members of a homologous (pron: ho-MOL-eh-gus) pair of genes are separated at the time of meiosis (pron: my-O-sis) o

Explain some side effects of carbohydrate loading, Explain some side effect...

Explain some side effects of carbohydrate loading? Some potential side effects of carbohydrate loading are: Muscle , stiffness Diarrhoea Chest Pain Depres

Mechanism of urine formation, MECHANISM OF URINE FORMATION - Production...

MECHANISM OF URINE FORMATION - Production of urine is uripoisis or diuresis. First of all it was explained by Kushney. Nephron separates acidic urine from basic blood, so ma

Define can we improve the nutritive value of protein, Define Can we improve...

Define Can we improve the nutritive value of protein? Yes, as discussed above, the nutritive value of a protein can be improved in two ways: (1) by mutual supplementation, that

Parasites - biological stress, Parasites - Biological Stress Many inse...

Parasites - Biological Stress Many insects and microorganisms can feed upon tissues and saps of living plants. Hence plants must be protected against such parasites either by

Porifra, what type of body cavities present

what type of body cavities present

Difference between other eukaryotic cells , Difference between other eukary...

Difference between other eukaryotic cells ? Cell Wall :  In addition to the presence of photosynthetic plastids, another significant difference between other eukaryotic cell

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