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	Podcast:		UC Science Today
	Episode:		How copper may prevent obesity
	Category:		Science & Medicine
	Duration:		00:01:02
	Publish Date:		2016-07-31 19:00:00
	Description:		When we think about what sustains our bodies, copper isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But according to chemist Chris Chang of the University of California, Berkeley, it’s vital to many biological functions, from nutrition to signaling in the nervous system. After learning that copper is given to cows to control weight gain, Chang looked into its role in fat metabolism and obesity. His team started with plates of cultured fat cells, then moved on to a mouse model. "What we ended up finding was that copper was a necessary component for the mice to be able to burn fat. And so what happens is if the mice don’t have enough copper in their fat cells, then they can’t undergo this process of fat burning, the act of breaking larger pieces of fat into smaller pieces of fat for energy. Then it predisposes you to having larger buildup of fat and of hence of obesity." Since a copper imbalance can lead to metabolic issues and other diseases, Chang plans to further study how the element might be used as a therapy or possible treatment. Editorial note: Please don't eat pennies!
	Total Play:		0