Of Hares and Humans: How Metabolic Adaptation Shaped Cell Biology and Disease Susceptibility

This project explores how animals adapt their metabolism to survive in challenging environments. The study conducted at Tampere University combines ecology with cell and molecular biology by studying cells from two closely related species: the mountain hare, which thrives in cold, snowy climates, and the European brown hare, adapted to milder conditions. Early findings suggest that mountain hares rely on a specific metabolic pathway involving glycerol, a molecule released when fat breaks down during cold exposure or fasting. However, this adaptation may come at a cost, limiting their flexibility to handle other stresses. My research uses advanced tools to examine how cellular energy systems function, how they are organized in mitochondria, and how these systems differ between species. Insights from this work could help conserve cold-adapted animals in a warming climate and improve our understanding of human metabolism, including conditions like obesity, diabetes, and even cancer.