Humans are incredibly resilient. We have found ways to thrive in the most extreme of environments. Take the Tibetan Plateau, an area with altitudes ranging from 12,000 to 15,000 feet. Despite the oxygen-poor environment, people living there somehow thrive. Now, a new study out this week identified key traits that allow Tibetan women to give birth to healthy babies in such extreme conditions. These findings are helping researchers understand the link between genetics, physiological functions, and evolution.
The new work, published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found women living in the Tibetan Plateau who had successful pregnancies were more likely to have physiological traits that allow them to deliver oxygen more efficiently throughout their bodies.
