Why did mammals evolve a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius?
A) They benefit from a high temperature because they seldom need to cool themselves by much.
B) Most protein bonds begin to break at this temperature.
C) Their body proteins are stable only at 37 degrees Celsius or above.
D) It is the only way they can detect changes in the temperature of the environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mammals evolved a body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius because it allows them to maintain a high metabolic rate and enzyme activity, which is beneficial for sustaining energy levels and overall physiological functions. This temperature is a balance between being high enough to support these processes and low enough to avoid excessive energy expenditure on cooling.

Why Did Mammals Evolve a Body Temperature of 37 Degrees