Question

What is adaptation? Explain physiological adaptation taking an example of altitude sickness.

Answer 1

Change in environment is the major cause of induction of adaptation. Adaptation is usually considered as a process rather than a physical character or form.

Complete Answer:
Adaptation is the process by which a species advances itself in order to survive in its environment. Adaptation can be considered as a result of natural selection which acts upon inheritable characters developed over several generations. Organisms are structurally, physiologically, and genetically adapted to their environments. Their movement or dispersal, mode of defence and attack, reproduction habits and development, can be changed due to adaptation according to their environment. The term adaptation refers to those features of a species which result from the process of evolution. One may distinguish the two different senses of the word by calling it an evolutionary process, and adaptive trait for the bodily function. Adaptation can be of following types-
->Behavioural adaptation- these adaptations are responses made by an organism which help it to survive or reproduce.
->Physiological adaptation – such adaptation can be called a body process that helps an organism to survive or reproduce. These adaptations help organisms to respond quickly against stressful conditions.
Structural adaptation- this adaptation is a feature of an organism's body that helps it to survive or reproduce.

For example, altitude sickness is a kind of physiological adaptation. It is experienced at high altitudes where the body does not get enough oxygen, this happens due to low atmospheric pressure. Such conditions cause nausea, fatigue, Shortness of breath, Inability to walk, Confusion, Fluid build-up in the lungs or brain and palpitations in heart. In order to battle such conditions, the body increases the production of red blood cells and increases breathing rate in order to supply more oxygen to the body. Severe symptoms can appear on going at high elevation without giving enough time to the body to adjust. Physically fit people may also experience altitude sickness.

In addition, Researchers don’t understand exactly why this happens. This leakage causes fluid to build up in your lungs and brain. Ignoring moderate or severe symptoms can lead to a life-threatening situation.

Note: Relation between in adaptation and fitness is used in population genetics. Alterations in fitness observed among genotypes can predict the rate of evolution by natural selection, as it can change the relative frequencies of alternative phenotypes. Phenotypes of population undergoing adaptation may not be always fit.