The amazing divers haenyeo of Korea survive thanks to genetic adaptations

Scientists have long been wonder with the Haenyeo’s ability, the legendary “women of the sea” of Korea who dthey are the boundaries of human resistance. A new study reveals that its capabilities result not only from decades of diving, but also from two genetic adaptations.

On the Korean Island of Jeju, an extraordinary group of women goes beyond the limits of human resistance.

Known as Haeneo (In Korean, “sea ​​women“), These divers face icy waters throughout the year, remaining submerged for long minutes, without oxygen tanks-even during pregnancy.

Authentic “Real Life Mermaids“This group of amazing warrior grandparents, recently in the documentary“ The Last of the Sea Women ”from Apple’s streaming platform, Lock for centuries a brave battle against the ocean threats to reap shell – and to ensure their subsistence.

“It was amazing, because they look very old, on land, but the moment they enter the water, They are literally like mermaids“Said the photographer Peter Ash Lee to the time it spent with the Haenyeo during a photographic report.

Lee says a conversation with Ko RyoujinThird generation Haenyeo and one of the youngest jeju divers stood out. “His biggest concern was the fact that This tradition is ending. She was talking to me in Korean and said: ‘I will be the last‘. Then, in English, ‘I’m the last mermaid“.

But these fierce, fun and hardworking women refuse to give in a millimeter, Helped by the struggle of a younger generation To revive their ancestral lifestyle through social networks – and continue to scare scientists with their prowess.

Recently, an international team of investigators has tried to decipher the secrets behind the extraordinary capabilities and longevity of the “sea women” on Jeju Island.

According to the, published this Friday in the magazine Cell Reportsa legendary resistance of the Haenyeo originates in both intense training throughout life and in genetic adaptations that help them survive brutal conditions under the waves.

“We believe that natural selection created a protective effect In women who dive during pregnancy, and that this effect comes from differences in the way blood vessels react to changes in blood pressure, ”he says Melissa Ilardogeneticist at the University of Utah and the first author of the study, to.

“The implications of these results can be deep – this may be something we could use to develop treatments For hypertension -related conditions, including those that affect pregnancy results, or even conditions such as stroke, ”adds Ilardo.“ Imagine whether the evolution had given us The answer to protect us everyone from a stroke?”

Chill

Scientists have long been wonder with the capacity of the Haenyeo, who often remain active until after age 70, impressive depths and hold your breath for many minutes.

Curious to understand how these prowess did, the researchers compared the heart rhythmsthe blood pressure and the genetic composition of 30 haenyeo divers with non-mergulatory jewelry and women from the continental Korea, all with a average age of about 65 years.

The results were surprising. While all participants experienced a decrease in heart rate during a “simulated dive”, where they submerged the faces in cold water containers, the Haenyeo cardiac rhythms decreased dramatically more.

“Haenyeo have dived a long time ago, so their cardiac rhythm was trained To decrease, ”explains Ilardo.“ This was something we could really see visually – we had a diver whose heart rate decreased more than 40 beats per minute In less than 15 seconds“.

Beyond training, Genetics also played a crucial role. DNA analysis revealed that the residents of Jeju, whether or not genetically distinct from continental Koreans, suggesting a common ancestral origin on the island.

However, two critical genetic variants they were much more common among the residents of Jeju, possibly giving Haenyeo an advantage: A gene associated with tolerance to the cold and another connected to a lower diastolic pressurewhich can protect women who dive during pregnancy.

Strength and grace

For Ilardo, the project was deeply personal. “After starting to work with the bajau in my doctorate, I fell in love with groups of people who have deep and significant connections with the maR ”, tells the researcher to Debrief.

“After learning more about the Haenyeo, I was fascinated. Not only are they diverse, but They are all women. It was an exciting possibility to be able to call this group, ”he adds.

“What surprised me most was This incredible balance that they keep between being Halmeoni Sweets and FemaleKorean word for grandmother who is used with love, but also some of the strongest and most capable divestments I have seen ”, notes Ilardo.

“I saw divers at almost 80 They jump from a boat to a day of diving even before the boat stops moving. Could continue for days to talk about How impressive they are!“Highlights the geneticist.

The work is far from over. Ilardo hopes to continue collaborating with the Haenyeo and the study other diving populations traditional worldwide.

“There is much more work we can do to better understand how exactly this adaptation is affecting the dive and what influence has on the population of Jeju,” he says. “I will continue to work with the Haenyeo while they are happy to continue working with me!”