Excretion Question

[dentalknight]

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Kaplan test question #32

Insects and birds excrete solid uric acid crystals in order to conserve water. this is an example of:

a) cooperativity
b) thermoregulation
c) osmoregulation
d) passive excretion
e) secretion

my guess was between c and d.

any ideas?

 

[PooyaH]

C it is!

 

[boxdesker]

I would say "C) osmoregulation" because uric acid is a way of getting rid of toxic ammonia without losing too much body water (osmoregulation). But this comes at the cost of more energy to convert the ammonia to uric acid. That's why this wouldn't be a "passive" process--it requires more energy than normal.