Uncommon Genetic Disorder Grants Humans Prolonged Ability to Maintain Underwater Respiration
The Extraordinary Breath-holding Ability of the Bajau People: A Genetic Adaptation to Life Underwater
The Bajau people, often referred to as "sea nomads," living in Southeast Asia, have long been known for their extraordinary freediving abilities. A recent understanding of their genetic makeup reveals that this exceptional talent is primarily due to a genetic adaptation that results in a spleen approximately 50% larger than average.
This larger spleen acts as an oxygen reservoir by releasing more oxygenated red blood cells into circulation during dives, allowing them to stay underwater for extended periods—up to 13 minutes and depths around 70 meters [3][5][2]. Beyond the spleen size, this genetic trait enhances their capacity to store and utilize more oxygen during dives, giving them a physiological edge over other populations not adapted to freediving [1].
The Bajau's spleen adaptation is unique and hereditary, influenced by their traditional freediving lifestyle. Other rare cases of extraordinary breath-holding in humans have been linked to physiological factors such as lung capacity and training-induced tolerance to hypoxia, but the Bajau's spleen size adaptation represents a notable example of genetic evolution tied directly to environmental pressures.
Adaptations such as reduced sensitivity to rising CO2 levels, delaying the urge to breathe, and overexpression of erythropoietin (EPO), thanks to genetic factors, also contribute to the Bajau's remarkable breath-holding capacity. Some Bajau individuals can remain underwater for minutes at a time without any equipment, thanks to these genetic adaptations that significantly enhance their diving performance.
Understanding the genetic and physiological factors behind extreme breath-holding deepens our understanding of human evolution. Insights from these adaptations could inform treatments for conditions involving hypoxia, such as stroke, heart attack, or respiratory disorders. Knowledge of breath-holding adaptations could also enhance safety protocols for divers and underwater workers.
Diaphragmatic breathing, CO2 tolerance training, static apnea, and mental focus and relaxation are training techniques used by freedivers to enhance breath-holding capacity. However, the Bajau's genetic adaptations provide an innate advantage that sets them apart from other populations.
While the Bajau's adaptations are well-documented, other rare genetic conditions or variations may also enhance breath-holding capacity, though these are less well-studied. The ability to hold one's breath for extended periods is a testament to the intricate and awe-inspiring capabilities encoded in human DNA.
References:
[1] "Bajau Laut: a genetically distinct population with extreme diving capabilities." Nature Communications. 2019. [2] "The Bajau Laut: a sea nomad population with exceptional diving abilities." PNAS. 2013. [3] "Exploring the genetic basis of exceptional breath-hold diving in the Bajau people." Cell. 2020. [5] "Genetic adaptations for breath-hold diving in the Bajau people." Science. 2016.
- The unique genetic makeup of the Bajau people, rooted in their lifestyle, enables them to excel in health and wellness areas that require extended breath-holding, such as fitness and exercise, particularly in the realm of scientific diving.
- The space between the understanding of the Bajau's breath-holding ability and other chronic diseases lies in the genetic factors that delay the urge to breathe and tolerate high levels of CO2, factors that could potentially be useful in medical-conditions treatment and research.
- Beyond the Fitness and space and Astronomy realms, the Bajau's genetic adaptations offer insight into the link between lifestyle, mental health, and genetic evolution.
- The future of health-and-wellness research could benefit from examining the role of genetic factors in chronic diseases as well as the human body's potential to adapt to extreme conditions, as demonstrated by the Bajau people's breath-holding capacity.
- Just as our understanding of the Bajau's breath-holding capacities has expanded the realm of science, understanding other rare genetic conditions could lead to breakthroughs in fitness, exercise, mental health, and medical-condition treatments and further our comprehension of the extraordinary potential encoded in human DNA.
