Science & Technology
February 25, 2017 ·
2 comments
The Atacama Desert offers very little drinkable water. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 XTSY
Despite this however, the local people seem to be thriving. The reason for this, scientists believe, is because over thousands of years they have evolved the ability to consume it without ill-effect.
In a new study, Mario Apata and colleagues from the University of Chile in Santiago investigated the genes of 150 people who live in regions where the water contains deadly levels of the chemical.
They found that these individuals had more of a protective enzyme capable of metabolising arsenic in to something that is less toxic and can be more easily expelled by the body.
"Our data suggest that a high arsenic metabolization capacity has been selected as an adaptive mechanism in these populations in order to survive in an arsenic-laden environment," they wrote.
It appears that, in a relatively small amount of time, natural selection has resulted in an entire population capable of surviving on a water source that would be deadly to most people.
It is similar to lactose tolerance - something that emerged around 7,000 years ago due to a mutation which allowed adults to digest milk through continued production of the enzyme lactase.
Even to this day, only around 25-35% of the world's population are able to drink it.
Source: New Scientist | Comments (2)
Similar stories based on this topic:
Desert people evolve to drink poisonous water
By T.K. RandallFebruary 25, 2017 ·
2 commentsThe Atacama Desert offers very little drinkable water. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 XTSY
The local people of Chile's Atacama desert have developed the ability to drink water laced with arsenic.
The drinking water available to the people of South America's Quebrada Camarones region is a particularly nasty concoction containing one microgram per liter of arsenic - that's 100 times more than the safe limit recommended for human consumption by the World Health Organization.Despite this however, the local people seem to be thriving. The reason for this, scientists believe, is because over thousands of years they have evolved the ability to consume it without ill-effect.
In a new study, Mario Apata and colleagues from the University of Chile in Santiago investigated the genes of 150 people who live in regions where the water contains deadly levels of the chemical.
They found that these individuals had more of a protective enzyme capable of metabolising arsenic in to something that is less toxic and can be more easily expelled by the body.
It appears that, in a relatively small amount of time, natural selection has resulted in an entire population capable of surviving on a water source that would be deadly to most people.
It is similar to lactose tolerance - something that emerged around 7,000 years ago due to a mutation which allowed adults to digest milk through continued production of the enzyme lactase.
Even to this day, only around 25-35% of the world's population are able to drink it.
Source: New Scientist | Comments (2)
Similar stories based on this topic:
The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News
AVAILABLE NOW
Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.
Click here to learn more
Support us on Patreon
BONUS CONTENTFor less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.
Click here to learn more
Space: Exploration and Spaceflight
United States and the Americas
Conspiracies and Secret Societies
Spirituality, Religion and Beliefs
Total Posts: 7,428,014 Topics: 306,214 Members: 199,793
Not a member yet ? Click here to join - registration is free and only takes a moment!
Not a member yet ? Click here to join - registration is free and only takes a moment!
1 week
2 weeks
3 weeks
1 month
Please Login or Register to post a comment.