Question

Name the three common nitrogenous waste materials in vertebrates. Which of these is most toxic and which is least toxic ?

Answer 1

"The three common nitrogenous wastes in vertebrates are ammonia, urea and uric acid.

Ammonia is the end product of protein metabolism. It is venomous rubbish in concentrated form and so has to be diluted by water.

In aquatic animals, there is no need for conservation of water and so ammonia is directly released into the environment.

On the contrary, vertebrates transforms ammonia as urea. Urea is soluble in water; therefore analogously not noxious.

Birds and reptiles produce the least toxic form of waste as uric acid. Uric acid is indissoluble thus, further conserves water and reduces the weight of these organisms.

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