Question

Animal Physiology Question

1. Nitrogen is excreted in three forms: ammonia, urea and uric acid. How do these different forms differ in their toxicity, amount of water required for excretion and amount of energy required to generate?

Answer 1

Answer

1) Ammonia

• It is produced as a waster product of amino acid metabolism.
• It is highly toxic.
• It requires much water to for its excretion.
• Least amount of energy is used in generation of ammonia.

2) Urea

• It is produced as a waster product of protein metabolism.
• It is less toxic as compared to ammonia but moree toxic as compared to uric acid.
• It requires moderate amount for water to for its excretion.
• Moderate amount of energy is used in generation of urea

3) Uric acid

• It is produced as a waster product during breakdown of purine nucleotides.
• It is least toxic.
• It requires very less water for excretion and it plays role in conservation of the water.
• Highest amount of energy is used in generation of uric acid.