this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
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The people who live there have minor adaptations after living there so long. I forget exactly what is different but they keep the differences even after moving away.
Hopefully it's immunity to lung cancer.
I would guess more red blood cells
Yeah. Remember reading something about first time birthing mothers had a higher chance of surviving with higher red blood cell count at high altitude. Have then selected for that adaptation.
Pretty sure you guys are onto it, believe it is theorised to be related to Denisovan genes
"Denisovans, an extinct hominin species, possessed genetic adaptations that helped them thrive in high-altitude environments, particularly in Siberia and potentially the Tibetan Plateau. A key example is their version of the EPAS1 gene, which is crucial for oxygen regulation in low-oxygen conditions and is also found in modern Tibetans, enabling them to live comfortably at high elevations without the negative side effects experienced by other populations according to a study published in Nature. This suggests that Denisovans interbred with humans, and their genetic contributions facilitated the adaptation of some human populations, like Tibetans, to high altitudes."
https://youtu.be/zXHgbUjPhOU
If I remember correctly, Ketosis is easier to achieve for Sherpas? And in contrast to getting energy from sugar, energy from ketosis doesn't require oxygen.. Or at least, less.