brown fat is a type of fat tissue found in hibernating mammals. inside the mitochondria of these fat tissue cells, these mammals have an uncoupling protein embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. this uncoupling protein allows hydrogen ions to leak from the intermembrane space back into the mitochondrial matrix. figure 1 shows details of the processes in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Which of the following statements provides reasoning that supports the claim that brown fatty tissue keeps an animal warm?
A. The uncoupling protein in this tissue increases the production of ATP and causes more body heat to be produced to warm the animal.
B. The uncoupling protein in this tissue reduces the proton gradient across the membrane and thus produces heat to warm the animal without ATP production.
C. The uncoupling protein in this tissue causes an increase in the proton gradient, which causes more ATP to be produced that helps to warm the animal.
D. The uncoupling protein in this tissue reduces the production of ATP and creates an increase in the proton gradient that allows more heat energy to be produced to warm the animal..