Abstract

Population genomic analyses of high-altitude humans and other vertebrates have identified numerous candidate genes for hypoxia adaptation, and the physiological pathways implicated by such analyses suggest testable hypotheses about underlying mechanisms. Studies of highland natives that integrate genomic data with experimental measures of physiological performance capacities and subordinate traits are revealing associations between genotypes (e.g., hypoxia-inducible factor gene variants) and hypoxia-responsive phenotypes. The subsequent search for causal mechanisms is complicated by the fact that observed genotypic associations with hypoxia-induced phenotypes may reflect second-order consequences of selection-mediated changes in other (unmeasured) traits that are coupled with the focal trait via feedback regulation. Manipulative experiments to decipher circuits of feedback control and patterns of phenotypic integration can help identify causal relationships that underlie observed genotype–phenotype associations. Such experiments are critical for correct inferences about phenotypic targets of selection and mechanisms of adaptation.

中文翻译：

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高海拔适应：来自综合基因组学和生理学的机制见解

摘要

对高海拔人类和其他脊椎动物的群体基因组分析已经确定了许多用于适应缺氧的候选基因，并且这些分析所涉及的生理途径表明了关于潜在机制的可测试假设。将基因组数据与生理表现能力和从属特征的实验测量相结合的高地土著研究揭示了基因型（例如，缺氧诱导因子基因变异）和缺氧反应表型之间的关联。由于观察到的基因型与缺氧诱导表型的关联可能反映了选择介导的其他（未测量的）性状变化的二阶后果，这些变化通过反馈调节与焦点性状相结合，因此对因果机制的后续研究变得复杂。破译反馈控制电路和表型整合模式的操作实验可以帮助确定所观察到的基因型-表型关联背后的因果关系。这些实验对于正确推断选择的表型目标和适应机制至关重要。