The phrase
"hypoxia response" refers to the body's reaction or response to a situation when there is not enough oxygen in a specific area or the overall body. It is the way our body tries to adapt and compensate for the lack of oxygen.
Full definition
It was a gene called the von Hippel - Lindau (VHL) factor, which encodes a protein that puts a brake on the
cellular hypoxia response.
«One major adaptation is a positive selection for genes involved
in hypoxia response and skeletal development, similar to those expressed in other organisms in high - altitude environments such as Tibet and the Andes,» Dr Subramanian said.
According to Simonson, these results could also have implications for individuals with hypoxia - related conditions such as sleep apnea or cardiopulmonary disease, as they might lend insights into how genetic variation contributes to
human hypoxia responses.
The researchers also plan to study how exactly
the hypoxia response works — how low - oxygen conditions kindle molecular efforts to protect and repair the brain.
Lu is a medical student interested in the role of epigenetic regulation in high altitude adaptation and
hypoxia response.