The human body can get energy by metabolizing proteins,
Last updated: 8/5/2022
![The human body can get energy by metabolizing proteins,](https://media.kunduz.com/media/sug-question/raw/59243442-1659706718.9346988.jpeg?h=512)
The human body can get energy by metabolizing proteins, carbohydrates or fatty acids, depending on the circumstances. Roughly speaking, the energy it gets comes mostly from allowing all the carbon atoms in the food molecules to become oxidized to carbon dioxide (CO₂) by reaction with oxygen from the atmosphere. Hence the energy content of food is roughly proportional to the carbon content. Let's consider lysine (C6H₁4N2₂O₂), one of the amino acids from which proteins are made, and oleic acid (C₁8H3402), a fatty acid from which fats are made. Using the idea above about energy content, calculate the ratio of the energy the body gets metabolizing each gram of lysine to the energy the body gets metabolizing each gram of oleic acid. Round your answer to 2 significant digits.