Biology
Biology
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134813448
Author: Audesirk, Teresa, Gerald, Byers, Bruce E.
Publisher: Pearson,
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Chapter 36, Problem 1MC
Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Excretion is the removal of waste from the body through the urinary system. Animal’s lifestyle is responsible for the type of nitrogenous waste in the form of excretion.

Expert Solution & Answer
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Answer to Problem 1MC

Correct answer:

Freshwater organisms excrete their feces in the form of ammonia. Therefore, option (a) is correct.

Option (a) is given as “Freshwater organisms are likely to excrete ammonia”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reason for the correct statement:

Aquatic animals do not possess specific urinary system. They tend to excrete through gills and skin. So they are bound to excrete in the form of gas. Ammonia is the simplest form of nitrogenous waste in the form of gas.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (b) is given as “ammonia is mostly excreted in urine”. Ammonia is a gas and urine contain water; additionally, the nitrogenous waste in urine is urea. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is given as “ammonia is the most complex of the three major nitrogenous wastes”. Ammonia is the simplest form of nitrogenous waste, urea is the most complex nitrogenous waste. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “Humans convert ammonia to urea in the kidney”.

Conversion of ammonia into urea takes place inside the human body and this is called as urea cycle, but the site of the cycle is not the kidney, it is the liver. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (b), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

Ammonia is a gaseous form of nitrogenous waste. It is the simplest form, produced due to break down of amino acids in the human body. The liver performs the urea cycle to convert the ammonia into urea.

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