How is mammalian digestion more efficient than the type of seen in bacteria?

1. Mechanical digestion: Mammals have specialized structures, such as teeth and a muscular tongue, which break down food into smaller pieces, increasing the surface area for enzymes to work on. This is more efficient than the simple diffusion of nutrients into bacterial cells.

2. Chemical digestion: Mammals produce a wide range of digestive enzymes, such as proteases, lipases, and amylases, which break down complex molecules into simpler components that can be absorbed. This is more efficient than the limited number of enzymes produced by bacteria.

3. Absorption: Mammals have a long and convoluted digestive tract, which provides a large surface area for the absorption of nutrients. The villi and microvilli in the small intestine further increase the surface area for absorption. This is more efficient than the simple diffusion of nutrients into bacterial cells.

4. Circulation: Mammals have a circulatory system that transports nutrients from the digestive tract to the rest of the body. This is more efficient than the diffusion of nutrients within the body of bacteria.

5. Regulation: Mammals have a complex system of hormones and neural controls that regulate the process of digestion, ensuring that it occurs in a coordinated manner. This is more efficient than the simple response to environmental changes seen in bacteria.

Overall, the combination of these factors makes mammalian digestion more efficient and allows them to extract more energy and nutrients from the food they consume compared to bacteria.