People have inhabited some gnarly landscapes throughout history. Innovations like fire and clothing have helped us conquer these inhospitable places, but so has our DNA. With the aid of technologies like genome sequencing, scientists are unraveling how humans endure all kinds of treacherous conditions. Here are four adaptations that show we can turn any locale-hot, cold, wet, dry-into a humble abode. In coastal glacial climates with subzero temperatures, food is limited to blubbery fare like seals, walruses, and whales. High-fat diets typically raise the risk of heart disease and cancer, but some locals like Greenland's Inuit have evolved genes that help them process the sustenance without any of the downsides. The Bajau people of Southeast Asia plunge up to 200 feet to catch fish. Their secret is the huge size of their spleens. The organs store red blood cells and release a boost of oxygen when we dive; a gene variant that tweaks hormones responsible for spleen size means the Bajau people can tap a bigger reservoir.
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