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

A leaf is detached from a tree and tested with iodine, A leaf is detached f...

A leaf is detached from a tree and tested with iodine. The leaf turns dark blue.    (a) What does this result tell you?    (b) Why is this result not sufficient e

Long-term responses - behaviour of plants, Long-term responses - Behaviour ...

Long-term responses - Behaviour of Plants Plants alter their course of development to suit the prevailing environmental conditions. For example, leaf maturation and fall, onse

Explain the membrane equilibria, Explain the Membrane Equilibria? A sem...

Explain the Membrane Equilibria? A semipermeable membrane used to separate two liquid phases can, in principle, be permeable to certain species and impermeable to others. A mem

Potassium ion can pass easily through cell membranes, In the human body, th...

In the human body, the potassium ion can pass easily through cell membranes, yet the potassium ion concentration is higher inside many cells than it is outside these cells. Could t

How are animals classified according to the germ layers, Q. How are animals...

Q. How are animals classified according to the germ layers present in their embryonic development? Cnidarians are diploblastic, that is they present only ectoderm and endoderm.

How does the male gamete penetrate the egg cell, How does the male gamete p...

How does the male gamete penetrate the egg cell? How does the female gamete protect itself from the entrance of more gametes after the entrance of the first sperm cell? The spe

Factors affecting normal blood sugar levels, Q. Factors Affecting Normal Bl...

Q. Factors Affecting Normal Blood Sugar Levels? Earlier in our discussion, we learnt that insulin is the most important factor responsible for normal blood sugar levels. Now we

What is cyclosis, What is cyclosis? Cyclosis is a type of internal cell...

What is cyclosis? Cyclosis is a type of internal cell movement in which an oriented flow of circulating material is formed and maintained in the cytoplasm by the action of micr

Predation, Think back to the patterns of predator-prey cycling from Section...

Think back to the patterns of predator-prey cycling from Sections 2 and 3. Which of the three predator functional responses would you expect to be most likely to give stable popula

What is the name of process of deposition, Thickness and toughness of plant...

Thickness and toughness of plant walls are increased by deposition within original cellulose wall, of a substance called as lignin. Process of deposition is called: a) Lignific

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