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Owl digestion

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kers | 19:41 Wed 17th Jan 2007 | Animals & Nature
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The owl diet is almost exclusive protein and lipids. Since owls must extract energy utilizing the pathways of glycolysis and Kreb's cycle, how do they convert the protein and lipid so that they can enter these metabolic pathways?
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I don't know much about owls, but glycogen stored in the muscles or liver of humans can be converted into glucose, which is a good fuel. To do this, ATP is needed to start the process. And (here is my lack of owl knowledge) as foetus' in eggs, an owl's cells must already be producing ATP, which powers the glycolysis reaction. :)

At the end of the glycolysis reaction, 3-Carbon pyruvate (just a type of carbon molecule) passes into the mitochondria, where it is oxidised, forming carbon dioxide and water which can be used in the Krebs Cycle.

This sounds like a question from an exam paper - I hope you aren't cheating! :)

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