Brown bears can enter a metabolic state similar to hibernation even outside the cave, and their genome reveals genes associated with the ability to “switch off” processes such as muscle degradation and bone loss.

This makes them a fascinating biological model for studying human diseases such as osteoporosis or muscle atrophy, as they spend months without moving and yet do not suffer permanent damage.

DOI: 10.3390/genes9120598.

Authors: Noemí De Luis Lora, Sandra Mari Diez, Vega Manrique De Cos, Emma Castagnoli