“How the indigenous Tibetan population
evolved to live with so little oxygen has been a mystery. Now we are beginning
to understand that another species may lie behind their survival.”
By: Alex Riley
Published: BBC, 27 February 2017, http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170227-how-tibetans-survive-life-on-the-roof-of-the-world
Level of difficulty: **
BEFORE YOU READ
·
High-altitude adaptation to understand complex
phenotypes | Abigail Bigham | CEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy5wUcCnCQo&t=1s
Note to the students: This task involves extensive
practice with paraphrasing and has been prepared in response to popular demand
QUESTIONS
1.
Read the story of the Chusang people. This
family of six had a lifestyle that was radically different from other Tibetan’s
in that they lived…………………
2.
The reason it is harder to breath at high
altitudes is the fact that …
3.
Evolution helped the people of the Andes by
providing them with…
4.
What solution to the problem of living at high
altitudes does the rest of humanity share with the Andean peoples?
5.
Beall was amazed by her findings concerning the
Tibetan people because… Mark True or False
·
They seemed to lack the evolutionary safeguards
the Andean people had
·
The Tibetan response to high altitudes seems to
run counter to basic scientific fact
·
She had measured regular Tibetans living at sea
level not the nomads
6.
We understand from the text that the
evolutionary safeguard the Tibetans have been gifted is greatly advantageous
because ………and makes…….less likely
7.
The second biological advantage of the Tibetans
over Andean population is the fact that…………………………
8.
The conclusion Nielsen reached as a result of
her research was that...............What was the implication of her conclusion?
9.
Watch the following video before you continue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0R-4OiQVVpc Now answer the question. It was fortunate
that the ancient Tibetans mated with Denisovans rather the Neanderthals because
otherwise….Use your own words
WRITING TASK
Write an essay telling the story of human adaptation to high
altitudes
HOW TIBETANS SURVIVE
LIFE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD
This task is based on
an anthropological detective story; a quest to run down the source of a unique
characteristic Tibetans seem to share. This fascinating text allowed for
certain specific types of questions: those involving the drawing of conclusions
and making evaluations. Further, I have focused extensively on paraphrasing
which students seem to have the most trouble with.
1.
In isolation (On the Tibetan Plateau won’t do;
what makes this group special is the fact that they stayed there the year
round)
2.
Oxygen molecules spread out in all directions
(and a lung…)
3.
Barrel Shaped chests that increase the volume of
each of their breaths
4.
The hematopoietic response (OR the explanation)
5.
T,T,F
6.
It reduces wear and tear on the blood vessels
and the heart/ CMS
7.
They exhale more nitric oxide and this gas leads
to a widening of blood vessels
8.
The EPAS1 gene from the Tibetan genomes was
unique / The Tibetans had inherited the gene from other species
9.
Possible answer: They wouldn’t have been able to
live at high altitudes
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