Overview
- The peer-reviewed study published Thursday analyzed 167 Andean leaf-eared mice collected across the species’ full range to probe how they survive from sea level to heights above 22,000 feet.
- High-altitude populations produce more body heat through greater shivering and active thermogenic tissues, giving them a metabolic edge in freezing temperatures.
- Cellular data show mitochondrial changes that support oxygen-dependent metabolism and genomic scans reveal variants tied to hypoxia tolerance that are also seen in other high-altitude animals.
- Surprising genomic signals link highland mice to detoxification pathways that help them eat lichens and other toxic desert plants that dominate some Andean habitats.
- Authors say the results provide a roadmap for studying hypoxia in other species and human health but stress that specific mechanisms and ecological drivers remain unproven and need follow-up experiments.