Mutation is similar to a 'super athlete' gene believed to give improved athletic performance Gene came from Denisovans, a human relative that became extinct 40,000-50,000 years ago Ethnic Tibetans split off from the Chinese Han less than 3,000 years ago

By Mark Prigg

Published: 16:16 EST, 2 July 2014 | Updated: 17:22 EST, 2 July 2014

Tibetans were able to adapt to high altitudes thanks to a gene picked up when their ancestors mated with a now extinct early species of human.

It is the first time a gene from another species of human has been shown unequivocally to have helped modern humans adapt to their environment, researchers said.

They found the gene came from Denisovans a human relative that became extinct 40,000-50,000 years ago, around the same time as the more well-known Neanderthals.

Tibetan nomads play billiards on an open grassland near Namtso Lake: Researchers have revealed the population evolved to thrive at high altitudes in just 3,000 years.

The gene has been referred to as the 'superathlete' gene because at low elevations, some variants of it help athletes quickly boost hemoglobin and thus the oxygen-carrying capacity of their blood, upping endurance.

At high altitudes, however, the common variants of the gene boost hemoglobin and its carrier, red blood cells, too much, increasing the thickness of the blood and leading to hypertension and heart attacks as well as low birth weight babies and increased infant mortality.

The variant, or allele, found in Tibetans raises hemoglobin and red blood cell levels only slightly at high elevations, avoiding the side effects seen in most people who relocate to elevations above 13,000 feet.

The rest is here:
'Super athlete' gene in Tibetans evolved in just 3,000 years

Comments are closed.