The metabolic rate of both a human and a rodent can be determined by their rate of oxygen consumption.

a. true

b. false

A Metabolism Chamber will be used to measure oxygen consumption in mice. The cylindrical plexiglass chamber is equipped with a removable cage to which a thermometer is clipped. Once a mouse is sealed in the chamber, it consumes oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide, which is absorbed by soda lime placed in the bottom of the chamber. Therefore, as oxygen is used, the pressure inside the chamber drops, which causes a soap film on the end of a calibrated tube to be drawn toward the chamber. The time required for the soap film to traverse a given distance of the tube is a measure of oxygen consumption rate (mls/sec). Since homeothermic (warm-blooded) animals, on the average, produce 4.8 calories of heat for each ml of oxygen consumed, metabolic rate can be determined from oxygen utilization rate.

So ... the answer to your question should be true.