High altitude adaptation in humans!!

Genetic variations in Tibetan populations and high-altitude adaptation at the Himalayas.
Peng Y, Yang Z, Zhang H, Cui C, Qi X, Luo X, Tao X, Wu T, Ouzhuluobu, Basang, Ciwangsangbu, Danzengduojie, Chen H, Shi H, Su B.

Abstract

Modern humans have occupied almost all possible environments globally since exiting Africa about 100,000 years ago. Both behavioral and biological adaptations have contributed to their success in surviving the rigors of climatic extremes, including cold, strong ultraviolet radiation, and high altitude. Among these environmental stresses, high-altitude hypoxia is the only condition in which traditional technology is incapable of mediating its effects. Inhabiting at >3,000-m high plateau, the Tibetan population provides a widely studied example of high-altitude adaptation. Yet, the genetic mechanisms underpinning long-term survival in this environmental extreme remain unknown. We performed an analysis of genome-wide sequence variations in Tibetans. In combination with the reported data, we identified strong signals of selective sweep in two hypoxia-related genes, EPAS1 and EGLN1. For these two genes, Tibetans show unusually high divergence from the non-Tibetan lowlanders (Han Chinese and Japanese) and possess high frequencies of many linked sequence variations as reflected by the Tibetan-specific haplotypes. Further analysis in seven Tibetan populations (1,334 individuals) indicates the prevalence of selective sweep across the Himalayan region. The observed indicators of natural selection on EPAS1 and EGLN1 suggest that during the long-term occupation of high-altitude areas, the functional sequence variations for acquiring biological adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia have been enriched in Tibetan populations.

Mol Biol Evol. 2011 Feb;28(2):1075-81. Epub 2010 Oct 28.

Why?
 There is an ongoing debate and a sort of naive feeling among people that humans have stopped evolving and all humans are inherently alike, the differences being superficial like skin color. This paper is an illustration that our glorious simian heritage has been adapted to living in the oxygen poor environment of the high mountains. I like thinking about impossible experiments, like ethically impossible experiments. One that I constantly imagine is cross breeding humans Kwisatz Haderach style!

I would start with sickle cell anemic Africans to make the superman malaria proof. I would breed him with a Tibetan to create a high altitude adapted being. This cross would then be breed with a descendant of the black plague, preferably from Germany. Lastly, I would breed this with a Chinese to make it so my superbeing would not be so sweaty. Maybe not so last. I have heard of humans that are predisposed towards massive muscle growth, I need to find a reference, but it would certainly be in there. I can only imagine the copulation between my anemic African, black plague descended German, sweatless Chinese uberbeing and the beef filled monster to finally produce my ANNIHILATION BEAST!!!

P.S. If you haven't seen Dune, you need to join us in the Future.