The Science of an Extreme Animal Athlete | HHMI BioInteractive Video

Summary

In this video, biologists Shane Campbell-Staton, Nate Senner, and Zac Cheviron explore how deer mice have evolved to thrive in extreme mountain environments. These mice, found at various elevations, including high-altitude, cold regions, have developed adaptations that allow them to burn fat more efficiently to stay warm and active in oxygen-scarce conditions. Through studies on metabolism and genetics, the team uncovers how the mice's hemoglobin and fat-burning capabilities are fine-tuned for survival. The video connects these scientific findings to the human experience of endurance and athleticism, highlighting evolutionary ingenuity.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♂️ Nate and Zac are passionate long-distance runners, with Nate pushing his limits and Zac participating in ultra marathons.
• 🐁 The focus of their study is the deer mouse, which has the widest elevational distribution of any North American mammal.
• ❄️ Highland deer mice live in extreme environments with low temperatures, strong winds, and low oxygen levels, but they remain active all winter.
• 🔬 The research involves catching deer mice from both lowland and highland environments to study their metabolism and genetics.
• 🍽️ Like other animals, deer mice use energy from food to survive, and the study compares how highland and lowland mice use fats and carbohydrates as fuel.
• ⚖️ Highland deer mice are more efficient at burning fat, which provides more energy but requires more oxygen than carbohydrates.
• 🧬 Highland mice have evolved to survive in low oxygen conditions by developing more efficient hemoglobin that allows them to extract more oxygen from the air.
• ⛰️ The adaptations seen in highland mice, like more efficient fat burning and oxygen usage, have resulted from thousands of years of natural selection.
• 🧩 The study reveals how species like deer mice evolve to thrive in extreme environments, showcasing the complex solutions life finds to environmental challenges.
• 🏅 The adaptations in highland mice inspire the researchers, particularly athletes like Nate, who face physical challenges in high-altitude environments.

Q & A

Who are the main people featured in the video and what is their shared passion?

The main people featured in the video are Shane Campbell-Staton, Nate Senner, and Zac Cheviron. While they all have different interests—Nate and Zac are passionate about running, particularly long-distance running—they share a common passion for biology.

What is the focus of the research conducted by Shane, Nate, and Zac?

Their research focuses on how a particular species of mouse, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), has evolved to become one of the most extreme endurance athletes by thriving in high-altitude, low-oxygen environments.

What unique environmental conditions do deer mice living at high elevations face?

Deer mice living at high elevations face extremely cold, windy conditions with very little oxygen. These are some of the harshest environments on the planet, especially during winter, when the mice must remain active despite being buried under feet of snow and ice.

How do deer mice at high altitudes stay warm and active throughout the winter?

High-altitude deer mice burn fats at higher rates than their low-altitude counterparts to generate enough energy to stay warm and active. This adaptation allows them to function in harsh, cold conditions where oxygen is scarce.

What tools do the researchers use to catch the deer mice for their study?

The researchers use Sherman traps to catch deer mice. These traps have a little door and a catch mechanism that closes when a mouse enters to retrieve bait. They often set out hundreds of traps at night.

How do the researchers simulate high-altitude environments in their lab?

In their lab at the University of Montana, the researchers use a refrigerator to control temperature and an oxygen tank to replicate the low-oxygen conditions found at high altitudes. These setups allow them to study the metabolism of the mice in a controlled environment.

What metabolic fuels do animals use for energy, and how do they differ in their use for exercise?

Animals primarily use two types of metabolic fuels: fats and carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are used for high-intensity, short-burst exercises like sprinting because they can be quickly converted into energy. Fats, on the other hand, are more efficient for endurance activities like running marathons because they contain more energy per gram but take longer to convert into usable energy.

How do highland and lowland deer mice differ in their ability to burn metabolic fuels?

Highland deer mice are able to burn fats at much higher rates than lowland mice, which is essential for their survival in low-oxygen, cold environments. This allows them to generate the heat needed to stay warm and active.

What genetic adaptations allow highland deer mice to survive in low-oxygen environments?

Highland deer mice have adapted to low-oxygen environments by evolving differences in their hemoglobin, the protein in blood that binds oxygen. These genetic adaptations allow their hemoglobin to bind oxygen more effectively, enabling their bodies to transport more oxygen to their tissues.

Why is the study of deer mice important for understanding high-altitude survival in animals?

Studying deer mice helps researchers understand how animals can adapt to extreme environments, such as high altitudes with low oxygen. The mice have evolved to use oxygen more efficiently and burn fats at higher rates, providing insights into how animals can survive and thrive in these challenging conditions.