“Papua New Guineans show unique phenotypic traits at altitude”: talk at the 1st Virtual Conference for Women Archaeologists and Paleontologists

Monday 8 March 2021, Mathilde André presented a talk entitled “Papua New Guineans show unique phenotypic traits at altitude” at the First Virtual Conference for Women Archaeologists and Paleontologists organised by the TRACES laboratory for archaeology, in Toulouse (France).

Abstract

Different biological adaptations to altitude have been found in highlanders from Asia, America and Africa, but only few phenotypes linked to altitude adaptation have been studied in Oceania. We tested the hypothesis that Papua New Guinea highlanders have developed phenotypic adaptations to altitude, as a result of inhabiting the highest mountains in Oceania for at least 20,000 years. We collected 13 phenotypes related to altitude in 209 Papua New Guineans from locations at high altitude (Mont Wilhelm, >2,300 m a.s.l.) and low altitude (Daru, < 100m a.s.l.) and found 5 significantly different phenotypes. Papua New Guinea highlanders show a higher haemoglobin concentration, a deeper minimal and maximal chest depth associated with a short height that may reflect a higher respiratory capacity and a smaller waist circumference, a phenotype associated with less abdominal fat.. Our study describes specific phenotypes in Papua New Guinea highlanders, the first population in Oceania. In parallel with other human groups adapted to high altitude, the evolutionary history of Papua New Guineans appears to have followed an adaptive biological strategy to high-altitude as well. Further investigations will be needed to discern the roles of short-term (lifestyle, developmental adaptation) or long-term (genetic) adaptive strategy on these phenotypes.

Reference



Cite this blog post
editorsppp (2021, March 8). “Papua New Guineans show unique phenotypic traits at altitude”: talk at the 1st Virtual Conference for Women Archaeologists and Paleontologists. Papuan Past Project. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://doi.org/10.58079/snvt

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