The Sherpa Phenomenon - Human evolution at work.

Just watching an interesting program on BBC about human evolution. They covered the case of Tibeten Sherpa's who live in extremely high altitudes where there is only 60% Oxygen in air. It seems that these sherpas have evolved a complex set of capillaries in the area behind their top lips. These are much more complex than normal humans and are proof of human evolution through natural selection.

Scientists have long wondered why the sherpas of the Tibetan Highlands can negotiate with ease elevations that cause some humans to become life-threateningly ill. Tibetans live at altitudes of 13,000 feet, breathing air that has 40 percent less oxygen than is available at sea level, yet suffer very little mountain sickness. The reason, according to a team of biologists in China, is human evolution, in what may be the most recent and fastest instance detected so far.

www.wholeweirdworld.com...

This is pretty interesting. I don't think I have ever heard of something like this before. Hope to see some good discussion here, instead of trolls.

Nice find! S&F.

I wonder what kind of traits desert nomads have that others don't.

For UK viewers, here is the documentary. It looks at human evolution and the potential for future evolution. It is interesting to know there are 9,000 designer babies out there. well worth a watch.
www.bbc.co.uk...

reply to post by woodwardjnr


Thanks for and interesting post. Starred and Flagged. Evolution at work. I too have noticed subtle changes. Being English, I have a developed set of taste buds for warm beer and special shaped fingers for fish and chips.

No, seriously, great find. Mother nature never fails to amaze me.

In before "This is just adaptation" or "This is just microevolution" comments.

When they turn into a new species please call me. Until then, good for them!

poor little fellow..

reply to post by TheLoneArcher

Thanks for and interesting post. Starred and Flagged. Evolution at work. I too have noticed subtle changes. Being English, I have a developed set of taste buds for warm beer and special shaped fingers for fish and chips. No, seriously, great find. Mother nature never fails to amaze me.

That's not human evolution! I mean human are not going to look like that. That's a mutation.

reply to post by jjkenobi


Did I call it or did I call it? With 2 minutes to spare, even!

Originally posted by iterationzero
In before "This is just adaptation" or "This is just microevolution" comments.

"posted on 2/3/2011 @ 09:25"

Originally posted by jjkenobi
When they turn into a new species please call me. Until then, good for them!

"posted on 2/3/2011 @ 09:27"

Originally posted by iterationzero
In before "This is just adaptation" or "This is just microevolution" comments.

Are you serious? This is the very definition of adaptation.

The definition of adaptation

reply to post by _SilentAssassin_


Actually, evolution is progressed by mutation. It does not need occur in the whole species to constitute evolution. If that was the case, all humans would look racially identical.

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
extremely high altitudes where there is only 60% Oxygen in air.
Tibetans live at altitudes of 13,000 feet, breathing air that has 40 percent less oxygen than is available at sea level

Wow! Actually it sounds like Sherpa's aren't even human. Or even Earthly! Average sea level oxygen levels are 21%. 60% oxygen levels would kill a human just like 0% oxygen would. I think the correct oxygen figure for the Sherpa's would be closer to 8.4% oxygen level.

Not trying to nitpick. Just saw that 60% number, and figured there was a mathematical error had taken place. Good article by the way. Those sherpa's are some bad mo fo's. The stories I've heard, from packing Oxygen tanks for the "climbers", to carrying majority of the camp materials for the base camps. Simply amazing the feats these individuals can perform.

reply to post by saabster5


yes, i saw one guy who has the record time of getting to the top (from somewhere) official



and he's been up on the top more times than i been to the 7/11.




it was on a mt. everest documentary. btw.

i think he hit the top 14 times or so.

reply to post by woodwardjnr


Star and Flag

I've been talking about the Tibetans on this forum for months, they're my favorite example to point Creationists to to show that not only did we evolve but we are STILL evolving. It totally shatters the "evolution can't add new information" argument. Thousands of years spent in isolation after our species left Africa has created some significant amount of genetic diversity. Had we all remained isolated we may have all become separate species. Thanks for posting this

Originally posted by addygrace

Originally posted by iterationzero
In before "This is just adaptation" or "This is just microevolution" comments.

Are you serious? This is the very definition of adaptation.

The definition of adaptation

I agree. The key word in my post was "just". Evolution is evolution, regardless of how creationists try to slice the scale by using the word "just".