Question

You are working as an intern in a small biotechnology company that is trying to develop genetic engineering approaches to improve the ability of humans to swim under water without SCUBA equipment or other sources of oxygen. As a physiologist, you realize that this problem has already been solved by marine mammals and birds who are able to function under water for extended periods of time. You decide to do some background research on diving mammals and birds and prepare a list of possible strategies to present at the next research staff meeting.State two possible strategies for enhancing the ability of humans to function under water without access to additional oxygen and briefly discuss why you think each strategy would be effective.

Answer 1

Answer:

1- By eating a supplement that enhances the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen, thereby reducing the oxygen dependence

2-  By developing structures that help to support high pressures, thus improving the ability to breathe in deeper marine habitats

Explanation:

Recently, it has been shown that beneficial mutations provided to marine mammals a biological adaptation associated with a higher ability to transport oxygen in red blood cells when compared to terrestrial mammals. This adaptation enables marine mammals to breathe less frequently to obtain the same amount of oxygen.

In birds, the airflow is unidirectional (i.e., inhalation and exhalation are complete), rather than mammals where the air in and out of the lungs. This mode of respiration helps the birds to tolerate the high pressures during flight.