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What is an example of human biological plasticity?

a-Feeling sick after moving to a very hot area from somewhere temperate
b-Bones healing after they break
c-People migrating to low altitudes when air becomes too thin at high elevations
d-Producing more red blood cells when living at high altitudes so that blood flow is more efficient
e-Women living at high altitudes having high birth weights so that children are hardy enough

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The production of more red blood cells at high altitudes is an example of human biological plasticity, demonstrating our ability to acclimatize to changes in the environment, such as low oxygen levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of human biological plasticity is producing more red blood cells when living at high altitudes to ensure adequate oxygen delivery to tissues. This physiological change is a form of acclimatization, which is the adjustment of body systems to maintain a set point in another system, such as the increase in hemoglobin concentration in the blood. Indigenous populations exhibit unique adaptations to low-oxygen environments: Tibetans breathe more rapidly, Andeans have higher hemoglobin levels, and the adaptations of Ethiopians in high altitudes remain a mystery. In general, physiological adaptation enables organisms to better cope with their environment, as seen in increased heart rates in threatening situations or diverse immune responses to pathogens.

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