Question

Which is a developmental adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia?

a-Alleles for hemoglobin with higher oxygen saturation.
b-Growth of an expanded chest during childhood.
c-Production of more red blood cells.
d-Mountain sickness.

Answer 1

Option B.The developmental adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia is the production of more red blood cells, facilitated by the secretion of erythropoietin in response to reduced oxygen saturation in the blood.

Step-by-step explanation:

A developmental adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia involves the acclimatization process through which the body compensates for the lower oxygen availability in high-altitude environments by producing more red blood cells (erythrocytes).

This increase in erythrocyte production is stimulated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which is secreted by the kidneys in response to low tissue oxygen levels. The correct answer to the question is the production of more red blood cells. The presence of more erythrocytes in the blood leads to more hemoglobin available to transport oxygen, which is crucial when the oxygen saturation level of hemoglobin is lower due to the decreased atmospheric pressure at high altitudes.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS), on the other hand, results from acute exposure to high altitude and is not considered an adaptation but rather a condition related to the lack of acclimatization.