Human biologists have studied the adaptations of high altitude populations for decades, and have established the existence of physiological differences between high altitude Andean and Himalayan groups (and low altitude groups). However, no progress has been made in determining the mode of inheritance of critical components in the oxygen transport systems of either Himalayan or Andean high altitude populations, so that currently it is not possible to deduce that the differences are hereditary, environomental, or a product of gene-environment interactions. Employing a novel statistical genetic analytic technique on family data from these areas, this project will address this important issue. A pilot study suggests the chances for success are excellent.
