
Concept explainers
To review:
The changes in blood triglycerides, lactate, and succinate levels due to seasonal variations in relation to the changes in bears
Given:
Researchers took brown bears (Ursus arctos) for the study of gut microbiota in food digestion and in many other aspects of nutrition. Brown bears undergo hibernation in the drastic winters. Researchers study whether microbiome of the bear’s gut was different or not, before and after the fasting. For this, the blood along with the fecal sample from 16 free-ranging brown bears has taken during hibernation (February or March) and following hibernation (June) for further study. The fecal samples were analyzed for the presence of different microbe communities, while the blood was tested for triglycerides and other nutrients.
The graphs given below were plotted by the researchers after observing the conditions. Graph1 shows the presence of different composition of microbiome during different seasons. Also, the differences in the blood levels of triglycerides, lactate, and succinate are depicted.
The researchers also examined the effects of these microbiota when introduced into germ-free mice. Germ-free mice, unlike normal mice are devoid of gut microbiota and are unable to gain mass when they are kept on a high-fat diet. Fecal transplants from summer or winter bears were given to the germ-free mice. Graph 2 shows the changes in body mass, fat content, and blood triglyceride levels of the mice after 2 weeks.
Graph 1: The two graphs showing the differences in the gut microbiome of the bear and the content of blood triglycerides, lactate, and succinate during the summers and winters.
Graph 2: The graph showing the differences in the body mass, fat content, and blood triglycerides level of the germ-free mice taken for the experiments and injected with the fecal transplants of bears.
Introduction:
Hibernation may be defined as the behavior of animals in unfavorable winters where they becomes inactive and sleeps for a particular interval of time. The animals do not eat during hibernation, thus, they use the stored fat to meet the energy requirements. Before the onset of hibernation, the animals keep on eating to increase their stored fat content.

Explanation of Solution
It was observed that the levels of blood triglycerides in bears were present in a higher amount in winters than summers. The bears undergo hibernation in winters and during hibernation, energy required by the body is obtained by the lipolysis (breakdown or oxidation of lipids) of the stored fat. Also, the lactate content in the body of bears was observed to be in lesser amounts during winters than in summers and the succinate (for gluconeogenesis) content of the body was higher in the winters.
The given data indicates that bears use mobilization and oxidation of lipids along with reduced glucose utilization and increased gluconeogenesis (generation of new glucose) as a survival strategy during hibernation. These strategies help the bears to cope up with the harsh winter environments.
Thus, it is concluded from the data that in bears, the blood triglycerides and succinate content were present in a higher amount in winters during hibernation as compared to summers while the lactate content was present in lower amounts in the winters. The difference in the content of all three components in summers and winters help the bears to cope up with harsh winters.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 50 Solutions
EBK LIFE: THE SCIENCE OF BIOLOGY
- Give the terminal regression line equation and R or R2 value: Give the x axis (name and units, if any) of the terminal line: Give the y axis (name and units, if any) of the terminal line: Give the first residual regression line equation and R or R2 value: Give the x axis (name and units, if any) of the first residual line : Give the y axis (name and units, if any) of the first residual line: Give the second residual regression line equation and R or R2 value: Give the x axis (name and units, if any) of the second residual line: Give the y axis (name and units, if any) of the second residual line: a) B1 Solution b) B2 c)hybrid rate constant (λ1) d)hybrid rate constant (λ2) e) ka f) t1/2,absorb g) t1/2, dist h) t1/2, elim i)apparent central compartment volume (V1,app) j) total AUC (short cut method) k) apparent volume of distribution based on AUC (VAUC,app) l)apparent clearance (CLapp) m) absolute bioavailability of oral route (need AUCiv…arrow_forwardYou inject morpholino oligonucleotides that inhibit the translation of follistatin, chordin, and noggin (FCN) at the 1 cell stage of a frog embryo. What is the effect on neurulation in the resulting embryo? Propose an experiment that would rescue an embryo injected with FCN morpholinos.arrow_forwardParticipants will be asked to create a meme regarding a topic relevant to the department of Geography, Geomatics, and Environmental Studies. Prompt: Using an online art style of your choice, please make a meme related to the study of Geography, Environment, or Geomatics.arrow_forward
- Plekhg5 functions in bottle cell formation, and Shroom3 functions in neural plate closure, yet the phenotype of injecting mRNA of each into the animal pole of a fertilized egg is very similar. What is the phenotype, and why is the phenotype so similar? Is the phenotype going to be that there is a disruption of the formation of the neural tube for both of these because bottle cell formation is necessary for the neural plate to fold in forming the neural tube and Shroom3 is further needed to close the neural plate? So since both Plekhg5 and Shroom3 are used in forming the neural tube, injecting the mRNA will just lead to neural tube deformity?arrow_forwardWhat are some medical issues or health trends that may have a direct link to the idea of keeping fat out of diets?arrow_forwardwhat did charles darwin do in sciencearrow_forward
- fa How many different gametes, f₂ phenotypes and f₂ genotypes can potentially be produced from individuals of the following genotypes? 1) AaBb i) AaBB 11) AABSC- AA Bb Cc Dd EE Cal bsm nortubaarrow_forwardC MasteringHealth MasteringNu × session.healthandnutrition-mastering.pearson.com/myct/itemView?assignment ProblemID=17396416&attemptNo=1&offset=prevarrow_forward10. Your instructor will give you 2 amino acids during the activity session (video 2-7. A. First color all the polar and non-polar covalent bonds in the R groups of your 2 amino acids using the same colors as in #7. Do not color the bonds in the backbone of each amino acid. B. Next, color where all the hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions and ionic bonds could occur in the R group of each amino acid. Use the same colors as in #7. Do not color the bonds in the backbone of each amino acid. C. Position the two amino acids on the page below in an orientation where the two R groups could bond together. Once you are satisfied, staple or tape the amino acids in place and label the bond that you formed between the two R groups. - Polar covalent Bond - Red - Non polar Covalent boND- yellow - Ionic BonD - PINK Hydrogen Bonn - Purple Hydrophobic interaction-green O=C-N H I. H HO H =O CH2 C-C-N HICK H HO H CH2 OH H₂N C = Oarrow_forward
- Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap ...BiologyISBN:9781285866932Author:Lauralee SherwoodPublisher:Cengage LearningBiochemistryBiochemistryISBN:9781305577206Author:Reginald H. Garrett, Charles M. GrishamPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Concepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax CollegeBiology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning



