Question

Select all answer choices that apply. At high altitude, the total atmospheric pressure is lower than it is at sea level, which means that pO₂ is also lower than it is at sea level. Which of the following adaptations would be beneficial to people who live at high altitude?

		A hemoglobin variant that has a saturation curve shifted to the left
		A hemoglobin variant that has a saturation curve shifted to the right
		A slower heartbeat
		Fewer systemic capillaries
		A lower hemoglobin concentration in the blood

Answer 1

Adaptations beneficial to people who live at high altitude:

A hemoglobin variant that has a saturation curve shifted to the left (this would mean the variant achieves oxygen saturation at a lower pO2 which is prevalent at high altitudes)

The other options are wrong. Faster heartbeat is required to pump the blood faster which can spread the less amount of oxygen quicker and come back to lungs for further oxygenation. Higher number of systemic capillaries are required which can be serve oxygen in more body tissues. And finally hemoglobin concentration needs to be higher in order to compensate the low amount of oxygen coming into blood.