1.
Extremes in climate differences have a few
different things that have negative effects upon the homeostasis of humans. The
main struggle is the necessity of oxygen within the body for its full
functional capacity and is measured percent wise within blood level saturation,
the best being between 95-100% saturation. With extreme altitude (mostly 2
miles above sea level or greater) can lead to not enough oxygen within the
body, causing respiratory issues, Hypoxemia, and other problems that can cause
stunted growth if not enough oxygen is flowing through the body. For
homeostasis needed for childbearing, altitude and the deficiency of oxygen as a
result has a higher chance of miscarriage for pregnancies.
2.
A. Short term- Deep respiration so that the body
can intake the lack of oxygen in higher altitudes because of the thinner
atmosphere.
B. Facultative- Production of more red blood cells and
capillaries to carry more oxygen to the body.
C. Developmental- Production of more Hemoglobin (the gas
transporting protein that makes up most of the contents of red blood cells in
our blood) that allows greater expansion of oxygen to be held by the red blood
cells to be carried throughout the body.
D. Cultural- Oxygen tanks are able to give the breather the
same oxygenation content to breathe at sea level even if they are at a higher
level of altitude.
3. Studying environmental clines in humans can help us
understand that we are not as different some think us to be because of our
bodies. It can show us that we are the same in our adaptable characteristics to
keep homeostasis regardless of our location. This can be extremely helpful with
medical treatments. With someone who does not get enough oxygen who is
pregnant, they can be given oxygen supplements if the child is not getting
enough oxygen for developments.
4. The only way I can really think of using race for
respiratory rates in people is measuring people from different races to see how
their respiratory system adapts to climate differences. Environmental influence
studies is better because it measures the group of individuals in the specific
location, regardless of race, thus showing how each individual or the group in
that area develops.
Good discussion on the problems related to high altitude stress.
ReplyDeleteGood short term, but it isn't just an increased rate of respiration. The heart rate also goes up.
Good facultative and cultural adaptation.
Increase hemoglobin production can be a facultative response as well. In order for it to be developmental requires a specific genetic change the causes the trait for higher production of hemoglobin to spread throughout the population and that production level is maintained permanently.
Good connections made between the knowledge gained from this approach and the practical application of this knowledge.
"The only way I can really think of using race for respiratory rates in people is measuring people from different races to see how their respiratory system adapts to climate differences."
Understand that it was acceptable to answer this question by saying that there is no useful way to use race to understand variation. Race does not have anything to do with how we adapt to high altitude. Race is not based in biology but is a social construct, based in beliefs and preconceptions, and used only to categorize humans into groups based upon external physical features, much like organizing a box of crayons by color. 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.
Good job on explaining the stress related to living in high altitude. I found your development section very interesting. I did not know the body produced more hemoglobin to get more oxygen carried throughout the body.
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