Review
Forestry
Shruti Choudhary, Sapna Thakur, Aasim Majeed, Pankaj Bhardwaj
Summary: Tree species, especially Rhododendron, demonstrate strong adaptability to climate change, particularly in terms of cold tolerance, with the capability of long-distance gene flow enhancing genetic variability. Molecular studies have begun to unravel the basis of morphological and behavioral changes in response to cold stress, while 'omics' advances have enriched genomic resources for understanding the role of molecular factors in cold adaptability.
JOURNAL OF FORESTRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yun-Seok Kang, Hyun Jung Kwon, Jason Stammen, Kevin Moorhouse, Amanda M. Agnew
Summary: Rib fractures in thorax injuries from motor vehicle crashes have high morbidity and mortality rates. This study aimed to generate biomechanical targets for rib response considering age, sex, and body size. Results showed differences in rib response between young and older adults, as well as between sexes, with vulnerable ribs successfully identified based on force and displacement at the time of fracture. The biomechanical targets generated in this study will be useful for injury prevention measures in computational thorax and rib models.
ANNALS OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Wondossen Ayalew, Min Chu, Chunnian Liang, Xiaoyun Wu, Ping Yan
Summary: The yak is a multipurpose domesticated animal that serves as a protein source for local herders and a sacred carrier of culture and religion. The yak has special morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic adaptations for tolerance to high-altitude stress, allowing it to survive in harsh environmental conditions. Through long-term natural selection, the yak has developed stable and unique genetic characteristics that enable adaptations to high altitudes.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jay F. Storz
Summary: Population genomic analyses have identified candidate genes for hypoxia adaptation in high-altitude humans and other vertebrates, with subsequent studies revealing associations between genotypes and hypoxia-responsive phenotypes. However, deciphering causal mechanisms is complicated by potential second-order consequences of selection-mediated changes in other traits, and manipulative experiments are critical for identifying causal relationships underlying genotype-phenotype associations.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kelsey Jorgensen, Daisheng Song, Julien Weinstein, Obed A. Garcia, Laurel N. Pearson, Maria Inclan, Maria Rivera-Chira, Fabiola Leon-Velarde, Melisa Kiyamu, Tom D. Brutsaert, Abigail W. Bigham, Frank S. Lee
Summary: For over 10,000 years, Andeans have been living at high altitudes where the limited oxygen poses a challenge to human survival. Recent studies have discovered evidence of positive selection acting on the HIF2A locus in Andeans, which is associated with the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway. However, the specific mechanism by which this allele leads to altitude adaptation remains unknown. By analyzing the genomes of 46 Peruvian Andeans, researchers confirmed the presence of positive selection on HIF2A and identified a unique variation pattern surrounding the Andean-specific single nucleotide variant (SNV) rs570553380. This variant is associated with increased nitric oxide biosynthesis, as shown in a Peruvian Andean population living at high altitude.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Jay F. Storz, Anthony Signore
Summary: In natural populations of high-altitude vertebrates, introgressive hybridization may serve as an important source of adaptive genetic variation. Studies have shown evidence of positive selection on introgressed allelic variants, involving long-term highland species as donors and more recently arrived colonizing species as recipients. Case studies involving the HIF transcription factor EPAS1 in high-altitude humans and canids have provided insights into complex histories of ancient introgression. Directed mutagenesis experiments have successfully identified causative amino acid mutations in introgressed hemoglobin variants, shedding light on the functional properties of selectively introgressed alleles.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xu Zhang, Tianhui Kuang, Wenlin Dong, Zhihao Qian, Huajie Zhang, Jacob B. B. Landis, Tao Feng, Lijuan Li, Yanxia Sun, Jinling Huang, Tao Deng, Hengchang Wang, Hang Sun
Summary: This study explores genomic evidence for convergent adaptation in alpine plants, revealing contractions and positive selection on genes involved in survival strategies, reproduction, respiration, and stress resistance. Transcriptomic data also highlights the genetic mechanisms behind adaptive greenhouse morphology. These findings provide novel insights into genetic adaptation to complex environments.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Binlong Chen, Diyan Li, Bo Ran, Pu Zhang, Tao Wang
Summary: The study identified specific miRNAs and genes related to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan chickens, shedding light on the physiological mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. These findings may contribute to breeding efforts for improved high-altitude breeds.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haoran Gu, Songtao Li, Haoyu Wang, Shudang Zhu, Dengyue Yuan, Zhijian Wang
Summary: This study aimed to understand the interspecific differences in ultraviolet radiation (UVR) tolerance among fishes. It compared skin histology between high-altitude fishes and their low-altitude relatives, assessed the skin histological changes of 22 fish species after UVR exposure, and studied the factors affecting the difference in UVR tolerance. The results showed that high-altitude and cold water fishes exhibited stronger UVR tolerance, and low-temperature adaptation may play an important role in organismal adaptation to UVR.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Junsong Zhao, Yongfang Yao, Mengmeng Dong, Hongtao Xiao, Ying Xiong, Shengzhi Yang, Diyan Li, Meng Xie, Qingyong Ni, Mingwang Zhang, Huailiang Xu
Summary: Animal gut microbiota plays a crucial role in host adaptation to different altitude environments. However, little is known about the mechanism of animal gut microbiota in adapting to high altitudes. This study analyzed the response of gut microbiota in wild macaques, humans, and dogs to diet and altitude environments, and found that high altitude environments drive the convergence of gut microbiota among species, possibly due to microbial transmission mediated by human activities.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Huifang Liu, Noryung Tenzing, Martha Tissot van Patot, Muge Qile, Ri-li Ge, Tana Wuren
Summary: The Tibetan population has adapted to the challenges of high-altitude living over thousands of years, with their placental mitochondria showing greater respiratory function compared to lower-altitude Tibetans and Han Chinese. This increased mitochondrial respiration in high-altitude Tibetans may represent an acute response that induces mitochondrial adaptations to protect against acute ischemic/hypoxic insult during labor.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Endashaw Terefe, Gurja Belay, Jianlin Han, Olivier Hanotte, Abdulfatai Tijjani
Summary: This study found genomic differences between cattle populations living in the Ethiopian mountains and lowlands, suggesting adaptations to high altitude. Some of the identified genes were also previously reported in human populations living in the Ethiopian highlands. The study also discovered new candidate genes associated with high-altitude adaptation in cattle.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Lin Zeng, He-Qun Liu, Xiao-Long Tu, Chang-Mian Ji, Xiao Gou, Ali Esmailizadeh, Sheng Wang, Ming-Shan Wang, Ming-Cheng Wang, Xiao-Long Li, Hadi Charati, Adeniyi C. Adeola, Rahamon Akinyele Moshood Adedokun, Olatunbosun Oladipo, Sunday Charles Olaogun, Oscar J. Sanke, Mangbon F. Godwin, Sheila Cecily Ommeh, Bernard Agwanda, Jacqueline Kasiiti Lichoti, Jian-Lin Han, Hong-Kun Zheng, Chang-Fa Wang, Ya-Ping Zhang, Laurent A. F. Frantz, Dong-Dong Wu
Summary: Donkeys and kiangs on the Tibetan Plateau have adapted to high-altitude conditions through different biological pathways, with donkeys mainly involving the EGLN1 gene and kiangs mainly involving the EPAS1 gene. There is no evidence of interspecific gene flow between the two species.
ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xu Zhang, Yanxia Sun, Jacob B. Landis, Jun Shen, Huajie Zhang, Tianhui Kuang, Wenguang Sun, Jiao Sun, Bashir B. Tiamiyu, Tao Deng, Hang Sun, Hengchang Wang
Summary: Investigating genetic basis and evolutionary adaptations of alpine plants, this study generated transcriptomic data of five Saussurea species using high-throughput sequencing and de novo assembly. Analysis revealed gene families specific to alpine species and hundreds of genes with signatures of positive selection, providing insights into Saussurea's adaptation to extreme environments of high altitude during the Miocene period.
Review
Neurosciences
Joshua C. Tremblay
Summary: High altitude is a natural environment for studying human acclimatization and adaptation. However, there is a mismatch between high-altitude populations and the countries where high-altitude research has been conducted. The majority of research has focused on lowlanders visiting high altitude rather than high-altitude natives, and there is under-representation of females in high-altitude physiology research.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)