4. High-Altitude Adaptation
Living at high altitudes presents a unique challenge: low levels of oxygen. Remarkably, populations in regions like Tibet, the Andes, and Ethiopia have developed distinct genetic adaptations that help them thrive in these environments.
For example, Tibetans carry gene variants that allow them to use oxygen more efficiently without increasing hemoglobin to dangerous levels. Meanwhile, Andean populations have adapted differently, often by increasing their hemoglobin concentration. These changes have evolved over thousands of years and continue to shape how people live and reproduce at high altitudes. Learn more