Marsupials
Source: phys.org
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Context
- Research shows that brown fat evolved in placental mammals, not marsupials, providing critical insights into mammalian thermogenesis and potential treatments for metabolic disorders like obesity and diabetes.
Details
Key Points
- Evolutionary Biology:
- The study of the evolution of brown fat in placental mammals and its absence in marsupials.
- Thermogenesis:
- Understanding the heat-producing function of brown fat and its role in maintaining body temperature.
- Bioinformatics:
- Utilization of bioinformatic tools to reconstruct ancient UCP1 proteins and understand evolutionary history.
- Metabolic Diseases:
- Insights into the potential medical applications of brown fat research for treating obesity and diabetes.
- Mammalian Adaptation:
- How the evolution of brown fat enabled placental mammals to adapt to cold environments.
Facts on Brown Fat
- Brown fat produces heat through the protein uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1).
- UCP1 transforms mitochondria into heater units, converting fat and sugar into heat.
- Brown fat helps newborn placental mammals, including humans, survive cold stress after birth.
- Brown fat protects against metabolic complications by burning excessive fat and sugars.
- The fully evolved form of brown fat is absent in marsupials.
Sources:
phys.org
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Consider the following statements regarding marsupials: 1.Marsupials have a unique reproductive system with a pouch for nurturing their young. 2.Marsupials are primarily found in Australia and South America. 3.The protein UCP1 in marsupials produces heat similar to that in placental mammals. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 1 and 3 only C) 2 and 3 only D) 1, 2, and 3 Answer: A |
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