Some facts about the body's most maligned cell
8 Things You Didn't Know About Fat
Posted by Ross Pomeroy, February 28, 2014, RealClearScience
Of the 200 different cells in the human body, the adipocyte -- the humble fat cell -- is by far the most maligned. Vilified even more maliciously is the adipose tissue it forms, otherwise known as fat. All we seem to want to do is "shed," "cut," or "burn" it. Until the 1940s, scientists were indifferent to fat, simply characterizing it as a form of connective tissue. But in the past four decades, that view has evolved considerably.
Nearly 100,000 papers have been published on fat during that time. From these learned exploits, researchers have learned that fat, far from being dead weight, is an "endocrine organ at the center of energy homeostasis." Without it, the human body could not function properly.
Harvard biologists Evan Rosen and Bruce Spiegelman paid homage to fat in the January 16th issue of the journal Cell, revealing an array of incredible facts about the tissue and offering insight into the future of fat research.
"Adipose tissue is a remarkably complex organ with profound effects on physiology and pathophysiology..." they wrote. "It seems certain that we will discover much more about this highly complex and relatively unloved cell in the very near future."
(Eight fascinating facts about fat are here.)
Posted by Ross Pomeroy, February 28, 2014, RealClearScience
Of the 200 different cells in the human body, the adipocyte -- the humble fat cell -- is by far the most maligned. Vilified even more maliciously is the adipose tissue it forms, otherwise known as fat. All we seem to want to do is "shed," "cut," or "burn" it. Until the 1940s, scientists were indifferent to fat, simply characterizing it as a form of connective tissue. But in the past four decades, that view has evolved considerably.
Nearly 100,000 papers have been published on fat during that time. From these learned exploits, researchers have learned that fat, far from being dead weight, is an "endocrine organ at the center of energy homeostasis." Without it, the human body could not function properly.
Harvard biologists Evan Rosen and Bruce Spiegelman paid homage to fat in the January 16th issue of the journal Cell, revealing an array of incredible facts about the tissue and offering insight into the future of fat research.
"Adipose tissue is a remarkably complex organ with profound effects on physiology and pathophysiology..." they wrote. "It seems certain that we will discover much more about this highly complex and relatively unloved cell in the very near future."
(Eight fascinating facts about fat are here.)
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1 Comments:
Fat is bad and everyone knows that science is settled. (-:
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