International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 34-42 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmeb 38 Figure 2 People in the the Himalayas adapt to high altitude hypoxia and low temperature 3.2 Comparing genetic differences in how different populations adapt to high-altitude environments By comparing and analyzing the genomes of different populations, genetic differences in adapting to high-altitude environments were revealed. Taking Native Americans and Sherpas as examples, although they live in different high-altitude regions, they exhibit some commonalities at the genetic level. Genes related to oxygen transmission and hemoglobin concentration underwent mutations in both populations (Sharma et al., 2022), indicating the independent evolution of these common adaptive genes in different populations in high-altitude environments. Even within the same geographical region, there are significant differences in genetic adaptability among different ethnic groups or populations. In the Andes Mountains of South America, some groups adjacent to the Chimera, such as the Acqua and Conchal, may have unique adaptive variations in their genomes despite living in similar high-altitude environments. This indicates that factors such as geographical environment and cultural history have an impact on the shaping of genetic adaptability. The genetic differences among different populations are not only reflected in oxygen adaptability, but also extend to other physiological and metabolic processes. Some high-altitude residents in South America may exhibit higher metabolic efficiency, while populations in Asia may exhibit stronger cardiovascular adaptability. This diversity suggests the complexity and diversity of high-altitude adaptation in human evolution. Although some progress has been made in current research, it is necessary to cover high-altitude populations from various continents and regions more extensively in future research to comprehensively understand human genetic adaptability in high-altitude environments. At the same time, considering the impact of different environmental factors, cultural differences, and lifestyles is crucial for understanding the overall picture of genetic adaptability. 3.3 Specific case studies The Tibetan people are an important ethnic group living on the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, and have been living in a high altitude environment for a long time. Related studies have found that genes related to high-altitude adaptability in the Tibetan population have undergone significant adaptive evolution. Especially the HIF-2A gene and EPAS1 gene (Zheng et al., 2023) are closely related to physiological characteristics such as hemoglobin levels and oxygen uptake, demonstrating long-term genetic adaptation in high-altitude environments (Figure 3). The genome research of Andean people who have lived in the Andes for a long time has also revealed their unique adaptation to high-altitude environments. Significant genetic variations related to oxygen transmission and cardiovascular adaptability have been found in genes such as the HIF family and EGLN1, which may be crucial for them to cope with low oxygen pressure in high-altitude environments.
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