Determinants of metabolic rate in animals. The metabolic rate of an animal represents its fundamental "cost of living" and varies dramatically (>100-fold) between different vertebrate species. We have proposed the "membrane pacemaker theory" to explain this variation and currently this is the only mechanistic explanation of metabolic variation between species. It has received significant international interest. A species metabolic rate and its maximum lifespan are connected but the precise mecha ....Determinants of metabolic rate in animals. The metabolic rate of an animal represents its fundamental "cost of living" and varies dramatically (>100-fold) between different vertebrate species. We have proposed the "membrane pacemaker theory" to explain this variation and currently this is the only mechanistic explanation of metabolic variation between species. It has received significant international interest. A species metabolic rate and its maximum lifespan are connected but the precise mechanistic link between them is unknown. We will investigate the mechanisms underlying the "membrane pacemaker theory" as an explanation of the metabolic rates of vertebrate species and its role in the determination of maximum lifespan.Read moreRead less
Of birds and bees: membrane lipids and the determination of maximum lifespan. The underlying mechanisms that determine why different animals have different maximum lifespans are unknown. Why do queen bees live for years but the genetically-identical workers bees live for only weeks? Similarly, to understand why birds live much longer than similar-sized mammals will give immense insight into the processes that cause ageing. Understanding the aging process in animals will have significant implicat ....Of birds and bees: membrane lipids and the determination of maximum lifespan. The underlying mechanisms that determine why different animals have different maximum lifespans are unknown. Why do queen bees live for years but the genetically-identical workers bees live for only weeks? Similarly, to understand why birds live much longer than similar-sized mammals will give immense insight into the processes that cause ageing. Understanding the aging process in animals will have significant implications for human health as the biggest risk factor for most diseases is age. Such understanding will help to cope with the worldwide problems of an aging population.Read moreRead less
Investigating the "membrane pacemaker" theory of aging. All animals age and die but the basis of the aging process is still not completely understood. Recent Australian research into the basis of the metabolism in different animals has suggested that the fatty acid composition of biological membranes may be the final part of the puzzle. Understanding why different species have such different lifespans will give profound insight into the aging process. Because it is such a fundamental biological ....Investigating the "membrane pacemaker" theory of aging. All animals age and die but the basis of the aging process is still not completely understood. Recent Australian research into the basis of the metabolism in different animals has suggested that the fatty acid composition of biological membranes may be the final part of the puzzle. Understanding why different species have such different lifespans will give profound insight into the aging process. Because it is such a fundamental biological process, understanding how aging occurs and what determines lifespan will have obvious benefits to understanding the basis of many aging-associated diseases. Understanding the role of dietary fats in influencing lifespan will also be of benefit to the community, both national and international. Read moreRead less