What is the advantage to excreting uric acid?
Conversion of ammonia into uric acid is more energy intensive than the conversion of ammonia into urea. Producing uric acid instead of urea is advantageous because it is less toxic and reduces water loss and the subsequent need for water.
Why do reptiles excrete uric acid?
Like birds, reptiles excrete uric acid and also pay a high energetic price. Presumably the excretion of uric acid originally evolved in both groups to permit the laying of terrestrial eggs. Fish and amphibian eggs can pass water-soluble nitrogen compounds, ammonia and urea, into the water in which they are bathed.
What is the advantage of using uric acid as a nitrogenous waste product in very dry environments?
Why is uric acid advantageous as a waste product of embryonic animals developing within shelled eggs? Uric acid is non-toxic and insoluble in water; this allows animals in arid environments to concentrate their nitrogenous waste and conserve water.
Why is it advantageous for birds they fly around a lot to excrete mainly uric acid?
Producing uric acid instead of urea is advantageous because it is less toxic and reduces water loss and the subsequent need for water.
What is disadvantage of uric acid?
If untreated, high uric acid levels may eventually lead to permanent bone, joint and tissue damage, kidney disease and heart disease. Research has also shown a link between high uric acid levels and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver disease.
Why do birds produce uric acid instead of urea?
Producing uric acid instead of urea is advantageous because it is less toxic and reduces water loss and the subsequent need for water. urea: a water-soluble organic compound, CO (NH2)2, formed by the metabolism of proteins and excreted in the urine guano: the excrement of seabirds, cave-dwelling bats, pinnipeds, or birds more generally
What are the advantages and disadvantages of excreting uric acid?
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Is the synthesis of uric acid a metabolically expensive strategy?
The synthesis of uric acid and excretion of urine with a high protein component is a metabolically expensive strategy that must have significant trade-offs to birds and other animals that have chosen this pathway for excreting nitrogenous waste products.
How are nitrogenous wastes in birds and reptiles evolved?
Birds and reptiles have evolved the ability to convert toxic ammonia into uric acid or guanine rather than urea. Nitrogenous wastes in the body tend to form toxic ammonia, which must be excreted.
How is uric acid excreted in a reptile?
Uric acid is excreted by reptiles, A dilute solution of uric acid passes from the kidneys to the cloaca (a common reservoir for products of the digestive, urinary & reproductive systems), Embryos of reptiles develop inside completely enclosed shelled eggs Uric acid is excreted by reptiles
Why do animals convert ammonia to urea before excretion?
Nitrogenous wastes in the body tend to form toxic ammonia, which must be excreted. Mammals such as humans excrete urea, while birds, reptiles, and some terrestrial invertebrates produce uric acid as waste. Uricothelic organisms tend to excrete uric acid waste in the form of a white paste or powder.
Birds and reptiles have evolved the ability to convert toxic ammonia into uric acid or guanine rather than urea. Nitrogenous wastes in the body tend to form toxic ammonia, which must be excreted.
Producing uric acid instead of urea is advantageous because it is less toxic and reduces water loss and the subsequent need for water. urea: a water-soluble organic compound, CO (NH2)2, formed by the metabolism of proteins and excreted in the urine guano: the excrement of seabirds, cave-dwelling bats, pinnipeds, or birds more generally
Uric acid is non-toxic and insoluble in water; this allows animals in arid environments to concentrate their nitrogenous waste and conserve water.
Does Fish excrete uric acid?
The method of nitrogen excretion depends on the habitat; aquatic reptiles (e.g. turtles) will mainly excrete ammonia (possibly urea) as with fish. Uric acid, as with birds, is excreted from the cloaca.
