High Altitude is environmental stress that negatively impacts the survival of humans by disturbing homeostasis. Homeostasis is the tendency toward a relatively stable equilibrium, especially as maintained by physiological processes. High altitude environments disrupt homeostasis because air pressure decreases as altitude increases. This means that the body is oxygen deprived at higher altitudes. Traveling to extremely high altitudes quickly could result in severe illness or even death.
From this weeks reading, we know that there are four main types of adaptations that occur in response to environmental stress such as high altitude. A short-term adaptation is a temporary physiological response that quickly restores homeostasis. In the case of high altitude, there is an increase in breathing and heart rate to as much as double, even while resting and pulse rates and blood pressure go up sharply as our hearts pump harder to get more oxygen to the cells. A facultative adaptation is a biological response to environmental stress. In the case of high altitude, the lungs increase in size and the body produces more capillaries and red blood cells to compensate. A developmental adaptation is when the DNA of population changes in response to long term stress through natural selection. In this case, a population that resides in an area of high altitude will all have a higher red blood cell count and larger lungs. The final adaptation is the cultural adaptation. A cultural adaptation is the use of culture to address environmental stress. In the case of high altitude, Buddhist monks would practice chants and breathing exercises.
There are many benefits of studying human variation from the perspective of environmental clines. When we study human variation from the perspective of environment clines we obtain a better understanding of why certain people have certain traits. Information from explorations like this is useful because it helps us understand why we have variation and how it occurs. For example, In the case of high altitude, we know that populations that have lived in these regions for extended periods of times must have adaptations that give them the ability to survive such environmental stresses.
Race is merely a social construct created by society to categorize humans with distinct traits. Using environmental influences on adaptations, as a means of classifying human traits, is a better way to understand human variation because it provides an explanation as to why these traits have manifested within a given population. Through this perspective, the concept of race really does seem ridiculous.
From this weeks reading, we know that there are four main types of adaptations that occur in response to environmental stress such as high altitude. A short-term adaptation is a temporary physiological response that quickly restores homeostasis. In the case of high altitude, there is an increase in breathing and heart rate to as much as double, even while resting and pulse rates and blood pressure go up sharply as our hearts pump harder to get more oxygen to the cells. A facultative adaptation is a biological response to environmental stress. In the case of high altitude, the lungs increase in size and the body produces more capillaries and red blood cells to compensate. A developmental adaptation is when the DNA of population changes in response to long term stress through natural selection. In this case, a population that resides in an area of high altitude will all have a higher red blood cell count and larger lungs. The final adaptation is the cultural adaptation. A cultural adaptation is the use of culture to address environmental stress. In the case of high altitude, Buddhist monks would practice chants and breathing exercises.
Race is merely a social construct created by society to categorize humans with distinct traits. Using environmental influences on adaptations, as a means of classifying human traits, is a better way to understand human variation because it provides an explanation as to why these traits have manifested within a given population. Through this perspective, the concept of race really does seem ridiculous.
"Traveling to extremely high altitudes quickly could result in severe illness or even death."
ReplyDeleteUltimately, perhaps, but there are a whole series of complications we encounter first before it gets quite that bad. How about shortness of breath, dizziness, low energy levels... etc.
You do a good job of identifying the four different types of adaptations to high altitude stress, with clear descriptions of each.
With regard to images, you needed to include an image for each of the four types of adaptations. You include just two. I'm not sure what the first one is referencing, but I will give credit for it as it seems to be attempting to refer to one of the cardiovascular adaptations. The second one applies to the opening paragraph explaining the problems with the stress of the high altitude, not helping explain one of the adaptations.
I don't disagree that more information and knowledge is beneficial, but how do we actually use this information in a productive way to benefit society? Can the information we gain from these types of studies have medical or scientific implications? Help people with lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis? Can we gain information on how to help preemies born with immature lungs? How can we *use* this information?
"Race is merely a social construct created by society to categorize humans with distinct traits. "
I agree... but how does that explain why we can't use it to explain human variation? This needed to be explained. Race does not *cause* adaptations like environmental stress do, and without that causal relationship, you can't use race to explain adaptations. Race has no explanatory value over human variation.