The kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis) is a desert rodent that survives without drinking liquid water, obtaining almost all of its water from the oxidation of energy storage molecules. For this reason, its diet consists of seeds rich in lipids (triglycerides) rather than carbohydrates.
Which statement correctly explains why the oxidation of lipids is highly advantageous for survival in this arid environment?
The oxidation of lipids yields more metabolic water per gram because lipids have a higher ratio of hydrogen to oxygen atoms (with more C−HC-HC−H bonds) compared to carbohydrates.
The hydrolysis of ester bonds in triglycerides releases more metabolic water than the hydrolysis of glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates.
Lipids contain a lower ratio of carbon-hydrogen (C−HC-HC−H) bonds than carbohydrates, allowing them to be more easily reduced during respiration to release water.
Lipids are highly polar molecules that bind water of hydration, which is then released into the cytoplasm when the lipid stores are broken down.
