Evolution, Genetics and Environmental Adaptation

Some populations living at high elevations have evolved over time to adapt to low oxygen levels. By analyzing the genomes of the Amhara group in Ethiopia, researchers found that these high-altitude natives have a genetic variant linked to low hemoglobin levels in blood—a trait that makes them less susceptible to chronic mountain sickness. Native highlanders in Tibet have a similar trait, but the researchers determined that the two groups adapted to the same environmental stress through different genetic and physiological mechanisms. This research may shed light on conditions related to low blood oxygen levels, such as asthma, sleep apnea and heart problems.
Source: NIGMS Biomedical Beat - Category: Research Source Type: news