Organism
Tibetan High-Altitude Populations
TL;DR
Human populations living at high altitude in Tibet that independently evolved physiological adaptations to hypoxia (low oxygen).
Human populations living at high altitude in Tibet that independently evolved physiological adaptations to hypoxia (low oxygen). Unlike Andeans who increased hemoglobin concentration, Tibetans evolved a blunted hemoglobin response (avoiding excessive red blood cell production) through mutations in EPAS1 and EGLN1 genes. This demonstrates functional convergence (surviving at high altitude) via different molecular mechanisms.