Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective
High-altitude adaptation is a remarkable example of natural selection, yet the genomic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of Ethiopian highlanders remain poorly understood compared to their Andean and Tibetan counterparts. Ethiopian populations, such as the Amhara and Oromo, exhibit unique adap...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2024.1510932/full |
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| author | Wubalem Desta Seifu Wubalem Desta Seifu Abreham Bekele-Alemu Changqing Zeng |
| author_facet | Wubalem Desta Seifu Wubalem Desta Seifu Abreham Bekele-Alemu Changqing Zeng |
| author_sort | Wubalem Desta Seifu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | High-altitude adaptation is a remarkable example of natural selection, yet the genomic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of Ethiopian highlanders remain poorly understood compared to their Andean and Tibetan counterparts. Ethiopian populations, such as the Amhara and Oromo, exhibit unique adaptive strategies characterized by moderate hemoglobin levels and enhanced arterial oxygen saturation, indicating distinct mechanisms of coping with chronic hypoxia. This review synthesizes current genomic insights into Ethiopian high-altitude adaptation, identifying key candidate genes involved in hypoxia tolerance and examining the influence of genetic diversity and historical admixture on adaptive responses. Furthermore, the review highlights significant research gaps, particularly the underrepresentation of Ethiopian populations in global genomic studies, the lack of comprehensive genotype-phenotype analyses, and inconsistencies in research methodologies. Addressing these gaps is crucial for advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of human adaptation to extreme environments and for developing a more complete picture of human physiological resilience. This review offers a comparative perspective with Tibetan and Andean highlanders, emphasizing the need for expanding genomic representation and refining methodologies to uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b83e5a639d24edf842ac7b9f3f2d5fb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b83e5a639d24edf842ac7b9f3f2d5fb2025-01-07T06:43:30ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-01-011510.3389/fgene.2024.15109321510932Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspectiveWubalem Desta Seifu0Wubalem Desta Seifu1Abreham Bekele-Alemu2Changqing Zeng3Center of Cellular and Genetic Science, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaInstitute of Biotechnology, Wolkite University, Wolkite, EthiopiaLaboratory of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United StatesCenter of Cellular and Genetic Science, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou, ChinaHigh-altitude adaptation is a remarkable example of natural selection, yet the genomic and physiological adaptation mechanisms of Ethiopian highlanders remain poorly understood compared to their Andean and Tibetan counterparts. Ethiopian populations, such as the Amhara and Oromo, exhibit unique adaptive strategies characterized by moderate hemoglobin levels and enhanced arterial oxygen saturation, indicating distinct mechanisms of coping with chronic hypoxia. This review synthesizes current genomic insights into Ethiopian high-altitude adaptation, identifying key candidate genes involved in hypoxia tolerance and examining the influence of genetic diversity and historical admixture on adaptive responses. Furthermore, the review highlights significant research gaps, particularly the underrepresentation of Ethiopian populations in global genomic studies, the lack of comprehensive genotype-phenotype analyses, and inconsistencies in research methodologies. Addressing these gaps is crucial for advancing our understanding of the genetic basis of human adaptation to extreme environments and for developing a more complete picture of human physiological resilience. This review offers a comparative perspective with Tibetan and Andean highlanders, emphasizing the need for expanding genomic representation and refining methodologies to uncover the genetic mechanisms underlying high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian populations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2024.1510932/fullhigh-altitude adaptationEthiopian highlandersgenomicshypoxia tolerancephysiological mechanismsgenetic diversity |
| spellingShingle | Wubalem Desta Seifu Wubalem Desta Seifu Abreham Bekele-Alemu Changqing Zeng Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective Frontiers in Genetics high-altitude adaptation Ethiopian highlanders genomics hypoxia tolerance physiological mechanisms genetic diversity |
| title | Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective |
| title_full | Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective |
| title_fullStr | Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective |
| title_short | Genomic and physiological mechanisms of high-altitude adaptation in Ethiopian highlanders: a comparative perspective |
| title_sort | genomic and physiological mechanisms of high altitude adaptation in ethiopian highlanders a comparative perspective |
| topic | high-altitude adaptation Ethiopian highlanders genomics hypoxia tolerance physiological mechanisms genetic diversity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2024.1510932/full |
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