Myelin may serve as an energy reserve for the brain, according to recent studies. Carlos Matute argues that these findings might mean that structure and metabolism should no longer sit in separate boxes.

https://www.thetransmitter.org/metabolism/beyond-glucose-the-brain-may-feed-itself/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=org-social&utm_campaign=20260526-perspectives-beyond-glucose

@thetransmitter
Evolution tends to cause things to be dual use kind of whenever possible, it sometimes seems.
@dougmerritt cue the classical joke of asking why the human body was designed such that waste disposal is situated next to the recreational area.

@tpfto
Classic!

That reminds me, I never did research why cloaca work so well in practice, since it violates the principles of my fastidious and squeamish side.

@dougmerritt another excellent example. The birds seem to do just fine with it, so maybe they know something we don't. (On the other hand, this also means you need to wash your eggs after getting them straight from the chicken, before use.)

@tpfto
And in some species, a fourth usage (and one ripe for a joke invention):

"At night, many of these species emerge through the anus of the sea cucumber in search of food."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca#Cloacal_respiration_in_animals

Cloaca - Wikipedia

@dougmerritt when the housing situation is sufficiently dire, sometimes you take what you can get.

@thetransmitter

Super interesting. I'm wondering what the implications are for multiple system atrophy (synucleinopathy + demyelinating disease) in general and for one case in particular - Susana Schnarndorf (paralympic swimmer, former triathlete) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susana_Schnarndorf

#MultipleSystemAtrophy #MSA

Susana Schnarndorf - Wikipedia