BIOLOGY 1A03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Himalayas, Stearin, Ketone Bodies

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOLOGY 1A03
• Professor: Kim Dej

Document Summary

Camel hump consists of a giant mound of fat. Camels don"t store water they store the fat tristearin- composed to glycerol molecule, with long saturated hydrocarbons. This fat is also a source of water when it is metabolized, allowing for camels to undergo long periods without drinking. Camels can endure long periods without water because: They have an extreme tolerance to water loss (up to 30-40% of their body weight)- They can minimize water losses (condensing water in the nostrils) In the spring and summer, eat leaves, grass, flowers, stems, roots, seeds etc. They can often eat for up to 12 hours a day and feed even more intensively right before they fly up (before and after winter) During migration, birds can lose up to half of their entire body weight (fat, able to metabolize the fat) Ability to fly up 32000 ft, line of aircraft. High altitude and prolonged flight can induce lipolysis.