The role of brown adipose tissue is to
A) efficiently generate ATP from fat tissue.
B) metabolize excess fat calories.
C) store excess calories as fat.
D) generate heat for the organism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brown adipose tissue is specialized for thermogenesis, which means it generates heat for the body. This is accomplished through the activation of uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which uncouples the electron transport chain from the production of ATP, leading to the production of heat instead. Brown adipose tissue is therefore important in regulating body temperature and energy balance, especially in cold environments. Options A, B, and C are not accurate descriptions of the role of brown adipose tissue.

The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue Is to