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cover of episode What Makes South Korea's 'Super Divers' Special?

What Makes South Korea's 'Super Divers' Special?

2025/6/20
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Short Wave
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A
Ari Daniel
D
Diana Aguilar-Gomez
E
Emily Kwong
M
Melissa Alardo
S
Stephen Chung
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Emily Kwong: 我将和Ari一起探索济州岛海女的奥秘，她们是一群非凡的女性自由潜水员，拥有令人惊叹的潜水能力。 Ari Daniel: 济州岛海女在极端寒冷的条件下进行自由潜水，她们的平均年龄很高，但仍然坚持潜水，这需要极大的承诺和勇气。她们的潜水能力不仅来自于长期的训练，还得益于特殊的生理和基因适应性，这使得她们能够在水下屏住呼吸长达数分钟，并采集各种海产品。我和Melissa以及Diana一起研究了海女的适应能力，发现她们的身体经过世代的潜水活动已经发生了改变。 Melissa Alardo: 我主要研究极端生理学，包括像印度尼西亚巴瑶族这样的自由潜水员。我们发现巴瑶族人拥有更大的脾脏，这与他们的基因适应有关，更大的脾脏可以帮助他们储存更多的氧气，从而在水下停留更长的时间。因此，我也想了解海女是否也具有类似的适应性，使她们能够适应极端的生活方式。通过比较海女和非海女的生理和基因差异，我们发现海女的心率在模拟潜水时下降的幅度更大，而且她们还拥有与耐寒性和血压调控相关的特殊基因。 Diana Aguilar-Gomez: 作为一名群体遗传学家，我参与了海女适应性研究。我们发现海女拥有一种与血压相关的基因，这可能与血管结构和功能有关，有助于降低潜水时升高的血压，特别是在怀孕期间。这种基因可以遗传给下一代，从而降低先兆子痫和其他危及生命的并发症的风险。通过研究海女，我们或许可以开发出保护全世界人民免受中风的疗法。 Stephen Chung: 通过研究像海女这样将身体推向极限的人群，我们可以更好地了解健康以及人体的能力。她们的身体已经适应了极端环境，这为我们提供了宝贵的 insights，可以帮助我们更好地理解人类生理的极限。

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The episode introduces the Haenyeo, all-female free divers from Jeju Island, South Korea, who can hold their breath for up to three minutes while collecting seafood in frigid waters. Their diving practices start from a young age and continue into old age, and a recent study suggests this is due to a mix of physiological and genetic adaptations.
  • Haenyeo are all-female free divers from Jeju Island, South Korea
  • They can hold their breath for up to two or three minutes
  • They dive in waters as cold as 50 degrees Fahrenheit
  • They start diving as girls and continue well into old age

Shownotes Transcript

For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell. These women start diving as girls and continue well into old age. And recent research suggests that it's not just years of training that makes this feat possible – it's also a set of special genetic adaptations. Science reporter Ari Daniel) brings us the story.**Read more of Ari's reporting here).***Have another story about biology and genetics for us to consider? Email us at [email protected]).Listen to every episode of Short Wave sponsor-free and support our work at NPR by signing up for Short Wave+ at plus.npr.org/shortwave).*Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)