High Altitude: Human Adaptation to Hypoxia

Hypoxia is referred to as the condition of low oxygen level and it occurs naturally in high altitudes. As the altitude rises, total atmospheric pressure falls down and causes a lower partial pressure of oxygen causing hypobaric hypoxia. The humans have adjusted themselves to hypoxia that occurs at high altitude in various locations, which is possible due to genetic basis. The genetic signatures of certain populations are recognized in the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway, responsible for the organization of transcriptional response to hypoxia. These genetic signatures are found in the HIF2A gene in Tibetans, which encodes for the prolyl hydroxylase domain protein 2 and HIF-2α gene. Adaptation to high altitude is the result of various genes that act in coordination with each other. Novel therapeutic approaches can be identified by unraveling the mechanisms of these genes. This book provides comprehensive insights on hypoxia. It will help the readers in keeping pace with the rapid developments in the study of human adaptation to hypoxia.