Mammalian System Energy Sources, Mendelian Genetics, and Proteins

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December 10, 2021
Genetics
Question 1. Describe How and When Fats are used as a source of energy within Mammalian Systems.
Fats (or lipids) are considered essential molecules that almost any living organisms need to live. Whether it be simple celled or highly complex organisms like human beings, lipids perform various functions that allow for their continued existence. However, the variations in composition and functions of organisms also mean a difference in how essential molecules such as fat is used in their day-to-day functions. The subsequent sections will discuss how fat is commonly utilized in mammalian systems in greater detail.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of mammalian systems with regards to fat utilization is its process of keeping it for later use. Aside from helping maintain homeostasis (i.e., fats as insulators), the fat stored within mammalian bodies is used as an emergency source of energy when needed. In fact, fats have a higher energy yield than protein or carbohydrates because each molecule has smaller water content and caloric content. This is the reason why mammals like bears can hibernate for longer periods since they stock sufficient energy within their bodies in the form of fatty acids CITATION Alb15 \l 1033 (Alberts, et al., 2015). Accordingly, mammals then consume the fatty acids stored within their bodies during times when their glucose levels are lower than what is needed or when their bodies need emergency energy than what can be produced by their bodies at a given moment.
Specifically, in mammalian systems, both the excess ATP and carbohydrates that come from the food that it ingests were transported to the liver for glycogen synthesis. Glycogen is not fat, but it is essential for the synthesis of fatty acids. Specifically, one of the glycogen's end products during Glycolysis is Pyruvate, which is necessary to synthesize fatty acids (and cholesterol). Accordingly, the fatty acids are stored within adipose tissues for emergency usage in the future.
When mammals run out of energy supplied by their glucose intake, each triglycerides (fatty acids) stored in adipose tissues are broken down into a molecule of glycerin and three molecules of fatty acids. On the one hand, the glycerol enters into the glycolysis pathway, which in turn serves as a power for the usual process of aerobic respiration, including the oxidative phosphorylation and Krebs Cycle. On the other hand, the three molecules of fatty acids could also be used in the regular production of ATP molecules in the Aerobic respiration process. However, compared to glycerol, fatty acids are first converted into acetyl CoA, which directly enters into the Krebs Cycle and not through the glycolysis pathway CITATION Alb15 \l 1033 (Alberts, et al., 2015).
Finally, it must also be noted that the storage of fats within mammals (and the consequent energy available) differs between its size. On the one hand, larger mammals (i.e., bears) have more fatty storage within their bodies to last longer without consuming glucose. On the other hand, the faster energy storage for smaller mammals means that they have to store readily available foods throughout periods of hibernation. Nonethel...