Nitrogenous Wastes Flashcards
What are nitrogenous wastes?
Are produced as a result of the breakdown of amino acids through a process known as deamination. This results in the production of ammonia.
What may ammonia be converted into?
- Urea.
- Uric Acid.
What is ammonia?
Is extremely toxic. It is very soluble in water and requires little to no energy. It needs to be excreted in a very dilute urine and is excreted directly into surroundings.
Describe the toxicity of ammonia.
- Very high.
Describe the solubility of ammonia.
- Highly soluble.
- In some vertebrates, it can dissolve in water and pass directly through body surfaces.
- AN environment high in water is required.
Describe the energy requirement of ammonia.
Requires little to no energy.
What are 4 examples of organisms that produce ammonia?
- Fish.
- Juvenile.
- Amphibians.
- Aquatic reptiles.
What is one advantage of ammonia?
- It is excreted quickly.
What are the two disadvantages of ammonia?
- Extremely toxic.
- Build-up can denature enzymes and reduce metabolic activity.
What is urea?
Is midly toxic and moderately soluble. It is secreted and dissolved in water. It is energy expensive to produce complex molecules in organisms with a high metabolism.
Describe the toxicity of urea.
- Very low.
- Can be stored in high concentration safely.
Describe the solubility of urea.
- Moderate solubility.
Describe the energy requirement for urea.
- Energy is expensive to produce complex molecules in organisms with a high metabolism.
- High, ammonia is converted to urea in the liver.
List 3 examples of organisms that produce urea.
- Mammals.
- Most adult amphibians.
- Marine bony fish.
What are two advantages of urea?
- Less toxic than ammonia.
- Reduces water loss in the body.
