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

Parasite and host during incubation period, Parasite and host during incuba...

Parasite and host during incubation period Incubation period is the second stage in the process of a disease. It is the time between the day of infection to the appearanc

Cell Communication, What would the effect be if a cell made defective recep...

What would the effect be if a cell made defective receptor tyrosine kinase protein that were unable to dimerize?

Secretion of parathormone and calcium blood level, Q. What is the relation ...

Q. What is the relation between secretion of parathormone and the calcium blood level? The parathormone increases the calcium blood level since it stimulates the resorption (re

Tumours of kidney - wilm''s tomour, Tumours of kidney - Wilm's Tomour ...

Tumours of kidney - Wilm's Tomour So  far you have learnt about the disorders in glomerular dysfunctioning, now you will learn about the tumours in kidney the wilm's  tumour.

Explain the the methods of community and population, What is a community? ...

What is a community? What is the difference among the methods of community and population? A community is a set of populations of living beings that live in the similar region

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation, CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Cessat...

CARDIO PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Cessation of cardiac activity is determined by  inability to palpate a central pulse,  unresponsiveness and Gnea. CPR consists of  measures for

What are the major significant organic molecules for humans, Q. What are th...

Q. What are the major significant organic molecules for living beings? Ans. There are many types of organic molecules that are important for the living beings. Particularl

What are some antibiotics used against fungi, Q. What are some antibiotics ...

Q. What are some antibiotics used against fungi? The systemic or topical azoles (like fluconazole, itraconazole and others), amphotericin B, the echinocandins (caspofungin, mic

What are the processes that autotrophic beings, What are the processes that...

What are the processes that autotrophic beings use to produce organic material from inorganic substances? The Autotrophic beings make organic material by photosynthesis or by c

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