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Science & Technology

Fastest case of evolution recorded

By T.K. Randall
July 4, 2010 · Comment icon 4 comments

Image Credit: Luca Galuzzi
Tibetans living at altitudes of 13,000 feet have evolved to cope with their environment in only a few thousand years.
Tibetans live at altitudes of 13,000 feet, breathing air that has 40 percent less oxygen than is available at sea level, yet suffer very little mountain sickness. The reason, according to a team of biologists in China, is human evolution, in what may be the most recent and fastest instance detected so far.


Source: New York Times | Comments (4)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by SV-001 14 years ago
but isnt mating crucial in evolution? I thought monks couldn't...you know..get jiggy with it.
Comment icon #2 Posted by Archer1945 14 years ago
I wonder if any one has thought to compare the genes of the high altitude residents of Tibet and those of the higher elevations in South America. It would prove interesting to see if the same genetic changes are in both populations. It still doesn't explain how their bodies operate using less oxygen since thinner hemoglobin means less oxygen available for the body's use.
Comment icon #3 Posted by aquatus1 14 years ago
but isnt mating crucial in evolution? I thought monks couldn't...you know..get jiggy with it. You do know that there is no requirement to be a monk in Tibet, right? Most are farmers.
Comment icon #4 Posted by BaneSilvermoon 14 years ago
Population of about 3 million. That would make for a lot of monks heh


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