8 Shortage of nutrients

8.1 Introduction

You know by now that plants can synthesise all the complex molecules that make up their tissues and seeds from very simple molecules - water, carbon dioxide and minerals from the soil. Mammals, on the other hand, need to take in many complex molecules ready-made, and some foods do not contain the right amounts or the right mix of nutrients. They have evolved various strategies to overcome the shortfalls, some of which are described in this section.