Revision summary
Genetic adaptations include malaria alleles, altitude genes, and lactase. Non-genetic adaptations are sweating, ventilation, and developmental shape. Culture—clothes, food, houses—does most polar and desert work. Farming and malaria show culture selecting genes. No environment is solved by DNA alone.
Model answer
Introduction
- Humans occupy desert, high altitude, Arctic, and wet tropics. Adaptation is biocultural: some of it is allele, much of it is plastic physiology and technology.
Body
Genetic factors
- Sickle cell and thalassaemia in malaria ecology.
- Tibetan EPAS1 and Andean haemoglobin patterns as different genetic altitude answers.
- Lactase persistence with dairying. Skin pigmentation clines with UV.
- These are population frequencies, not a passport for one person.
Non-genetic factors
- Acclimatization: ventilation at altitude, sweating in heat, shivering and clothing in cold.
- Developmental plasticity: chest growth in high-altitude children.
- Culture: Inuit diet and parkas, desert tents, monsoon agriculture, caste water rules that also spread or block infection.
- Behaviour: siesta, migration, and fire are adaptations without a new mutation.
Bio-cultural
- Livingstone on malaria and farming: culture changed the genetic landscape.
- A Tibetan village uses genes, large lungs, tea, and housing together.
Flow diagram
flowchart TD ENV[Environment] --> G[Alleles sickle EPAS1 lactase] ENV --> NG[Acclimatization culture] G --> BC[Biocultural adaptation] NG --> BC
Conclusion
Genetic factors are selected alleles for malaria, altitude, milk, and sun. Non-genetic factors are acclimatization, growth, and culture. Human adaptation to environments is almost always both.
Quick related
Students also ask
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Explain the skeletal changes due to erect posture and their implications.
Next question in the 2016 paper (Q8). View answer →
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Is culture ‘non-genetic’ always?
Culture is learned, yet it can change selection on genes, as with dairying.
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Can one gene explain Himalayan life?
No. Multiple alleles plus behaviour and housing.
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