Uricotelism, Biology

Assignment Help:

Uricotelism

In animals which inhabit extremely arid environments, ammonia is converted into  uric acid. Uric acid is least toxic, relatively insoluble and is easily precipitated. Hence, it can be excreted in solid form without loss of substantial amount of water. Pulmonate snails, terrestrial insects, squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) and birds excrete a major portion of their waste nitrogen in the form of semi-solid or solid uric acid and hence are referred to as uricotelic animals.

1807_Uricotelism.png

Figure: Uric Acid

The synthesis of uric acid from ammonia in these animals occurs by the inosinic acid pathway. This pathway was first elucidated by Buchanan and his co- workers in the 1950s in pigeon liver. Uric acid is a member of the purines. While the details of the pathway are beyond the scope of this unit, in Figure the different fragments from which the uric acid molecule is assembled is shown. The dashed lines which divide the uric acid molecule in the Figure indicate the building blocks from which its biosynthesis takes place.


Related Discussions:- Uricotelism

Floristic composition - qualitative characters, Floristic Composition - Qua...

Floristic Composition - Qualitative Characters One of the important qualitative characteristics of a community is its floristic composition. This broadly refers to the kind o

Sutures are also classified by thread diameter, Sutures are also classified...

Sutures are also classified by thread diameter: Thread materials range in diameter from 1 to 10 with the higher number corresponding to the thinner, more delicate thread. In

What is the endocrine function of the placenta, What is the endocrine funct...

What is the endocrine function of the placenta? The placenta is not a permanent gland of the endocrine system but it also has endocrinal function. The placenta produces estroge

What is gene expression, What is Gene Expression ? Gene expression i...

What is Gene Expression ? Gene expression is the process by which a gene is activated to produce a certain protein. Cells are able to respond to changes in the environment i

Explain some advantages of most probable number, Explain some Advantages of...

Explain some Advantages of Most Probable Number? 1. It is simple and method of choice for determining fecal coliform densities. 2. Results of different laboratories are comp

#biology, why do ecological models commonly have limited applications ?

why do ecological models commonly have limited applications ?

The splinter with a sterile needle, joey has a splinter in his finger. His ...

joey has a splinter in his finger. His mother pulled the skin away from the splinter with a sterile needle and removed the splinter. Joey did not feel pain and did not bleed. Expla

Proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum, The RER have various proteins which ...

The RER have various proteins which have the role of assisting nascent proteins to fold rightly into their native conformation. Some of these are called as chaperones. RER-resident

Why do c4 plants have dimorphic chloroplasts, a) Why do C 4 plants have di...

a) Why do C 4 plants have dimorphic chloroplasts? Describe the different steps involved in C 4 photosynthetic carbon cycle in such plants.

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