想過沒有，渾身脂肪的北極熊為何不死於心血管疾病?
科學家找到答案。盡管北極熊體內的脂肪組織比例高達50%，且LDL及甘油三脂水平也很高，但由於北極熊的基因APOB有些改變，能使膽固醇轉出血液進入細胞而利用，因而不因體脂過多而患上心血管疾病。論文發表在Cell。
FILE - Taiga the polar bear looks on at the Quebec Aquarium in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, Dec. 30, 2013
Their diet allows for a body fat build-up for insulation and buoyancy while swimming. But it comes at a cost - very high levels of LDL cholesterol, known as the "bad cholesterol," and triglycerides in the blood. They have levels that would cause cardiovascular disease in humans, but their genetic changes seem to have taken care of the problem.
One important example was a change in the gene APOB, which plays a role in getting cholesterol out of the bloodstream and into cells, thereby lowering heart disease risk.
"This all makes very good sense in a species which is completely reliant on fat for survival," Lorenzen said.
The study was published on Thursday in the journal Cell.
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穀歌今天為紀念英國女化學家霍奇金誕生104周年，畫的是她測的青黴素分子模型。她因測定維生素B12的分子結構於1964年獲得諾貝爾獎，成為第三位女性諾貝爾獎獲得者。但她最重要的工作則是測定胰島素的結構。
