HUMAN ADAPTATIONS

Have you observed the world where we live?. There are billions of life forms with different sizes and shapes. Numerous authors think that the most amazing life forms on the planet most are human. Human species have proven their superiority over all other life forms with their special abilities for adaptations to the new environmental stresses (Emilio F. Moran,2007)(1). The study of the biological aspects of individuals and that ability for adaptation has covered an important roll in the understanding of our survival.

Genetic, developmental adjustments, anatomical, and physiological are some of the biological changes in the process of adaptation. The human body reacts to changing environmental stresses in too many forms. We can acclimatize to wide range of temperature and humidity as a physiological response to the environmental conditions and are partially determinate by genes, and the degree of the exposure. We also can mention the skin color as other example of human adaptation .In geography areas with stronger solar radiation; people show more concentration of melanin. Melanin is the substance responsible of the skin coloration and its function is to offer skin protection against ultraviolet radiation. (1)(2)

When an individual is constant expose to environmental stress for long period of time and the stress condition last many generations, new adaptations will develop in respond to the new environment conditions. The individuals who inherit the trait that offers an advantage in responding to the particular stress, are more likely to survive longer and pass on more of their genes to the next generation as a result of genetic solutions for adaptability. (Emilio F. Moran, 2007). (1). Infectious disease exposure is a good example of the genetic evolutions. The HIV(human immunodeficiency virus) , is responsible for the disease known as Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) . Immunodeficiency virus manly targets the lymphocytes T4 in the immune system. New genetics variations and some type of mutation have occurred in reference to receptor site of the cell for the HIV and as a result some group of humans show certain resistance to the HIV infection. (2)

As we can appreciate, numerous biological factors have determinate the human species survival along generations. The systematic study of this biological individuality will give us a real idea in the understanding of the human being.

Bibliography:

Emilio F. Moran, (2007). Human adaptability. 3rd ed.

Modern Human Variation and adaptation. Chapter 4 : Heredity and evolution, (pp. 81-83).

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