International Journal of Molecular Ecology and Conservation 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 18-26 http://ecoevopublisher.com/index.php/ijmec 19 changing environment. This study will provide a detailed introduction to GWAS technology and its application in genetic research, and then analyze how humans respond to environmental changes through genetic adaptation through specific research cases. We hope that this study can provide a new perspective for understanding human genetic adaptability, and provide scientific basis and strategic recommendations for addressing the challenges of climate change in the future. 2 The Current Situation and Impact of Global Climate Change 2.1 Current status and future trends of global climate change In the past few decades, global climate change has become an irreversible global issue affecting the Earth’s ecosystem and human society. Scientific evidence shows that global surface temperatures have risen by approximately 0.6 °C above the average of the previous century, consistent with model predictions of rising concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases. Extreme temperature events have become more frequent, causing increasing damage to ecosystems, agriculture, and human health. At the same time, the hydrological cycle will strengthen due to increased surface and ocean evaporation rates, leading to increased rainfall in tropical and high latitude regions, while large areas within the continent will become drier and warmer. More frequent climate extreme events will increase the frequency and intensity of drought and flood events worldwide. In addition, rising sea levels will put millions of people at risk and pose significant challenges to many low-lying areas (Rossati, 2016). According to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the global average temperature has risen by approximately 1 °C since the late 19th century. Although this number may sound small, it has led to significant climate change, including an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves, accelerated glacier melting, and an increase in extreme rainfall events. In the future, if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, it is expected that the global average temperature will rise by 2 °C to 5 °C compared to pre industrial levels by the end of this century. This temperature rise will further exacerbate the impact of climate change and have more serious consequences for both natural and human systems. 2.2 The widespread impact of global climate change The impact of global climate change is multifaceted, including changes in natural ecosystems and various aspects of human society and economy. The high temperatures and extreme weather events caused by global climate change have had a wide-ranging impact on ecosystems. The habitats of organisms are undergoing changes, and some species are at risk of extinction, posing a serious threat to biodiversity. For example, coral reefs experience bleaching due to rising seawater temperature, losing their vitality (Yamano et al, 2011); The melting of the Arctic ice sheet poses a threat to the living environment of species such as polar bears (Stirling and Derocher, 2012) (Figure 1). Climate change has also had a direct impact on agricultural production, leading to increasingly serious food security issues. Heat waves and droughts reduced crop yields, while floods and rainstorm damaged farmland and affected the food supply chain (Lamaoui et al., 2018). In addition, climate change has intensified the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and floods, which not only cause huge economic losses but also seriously threaten human life safety. At the same time, climate change also poses a significant threat to public health. Sargent et al. (2022) predicted that under climate change scenarios, the emergence of certain new suitable areas will put populations who were not previously exposed to such diseases at risk, while the suitability for dengue fever and Zika virus transmission is expected to increase in duration and geographical scope. In addition, heatwaves will increase the risk of heatstroke and cardiovascular disease; The deterioration of air quality will exacerbate respiratory diseases; Extreme weather events will also exacerbate mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. Faced with the severe challenge of global climate change, the global community is striving to find strategies to adapt to and mitigate climate change. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting and restoring ecosystems, enhancing the resilience of socio-economic systems, and developing agricultural technologies that adapt to climate change. At the same time, understanding the genetic response mechanisms of humans to climate
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