Researchers have discovered that the ability of Tibetans to survive in low oxygen conditions is caused by a DNA base pair that changed 8,000 years ago.

The findings help researchers understand the unique aspects of Tibetan adaptation to high altitudes and to have a better understanding in human evolution, said Josef Prchal from the University of Utah.

Like Us on Facebook

Researchers believe the story behind this finding is not just about a scientific advance but is also about cultural diplomacy.

They revealed that about 8,000 years ago, the gene EGLN1 was changed by a single DNA base pair.

Researchers noted that 88 percent of Tibetans have a genetic variation absent from closely related Asians.

The findings indicate the genetic variation endowed its carriers with an advantage. Researchers also found that people who don't have this adaptation capability have thick blood that can cause heart failure.

This newly identified genetic variation protects Tibetans by decreasing the over-response to low oxygen.

This genetic adaptation probably caused other changes to the body that still have to be understood. It's one of the many unidentified genetic changes that collectively support life at high altitudes, researchers said.

Prchal claims this finding can extend beyond human evolution because oxygen plays a central role in human physiology and disease.

A deep understanding of how high altitude adaptations work could lead to treatments of various diseases which include cancer, he said.