Presentation description

The Tarahumara are an Indigenous tribe from the mountainous region of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico, renowned for their endurance running capabilities. This research aims to uncover the physiological and genetic traits that enable the Tarahumara to excel in endurance running, an ability that is integral to their traditional hunting lifestyle. By running prey to the point of exhaustion, the Tarahumara practice persistence hunting, a method that requires extreme physical endurance.The significance of this research lies in understanding how natural selection has shaped the physiological and genetic adaptations of the Tarahumara, allowing them to sustain such remarkable feats of endurance. We hypothesize that natural selection has driven adaptations in the Tarahumara's genetics and physiology, which can be identified and characterized. To test this hypothesis, we have designed experiments to examine key physiological markers including VO2 max (a measure of aerobic capacity), thermoregulation (the ability to maintain core body temperature), and lactate threshold (the point at which lactate begins to accumulate in the blood). These metrics will provide insights into the cardiovascular efficiency, thermal adaptability, and metabolic endurance of the Tarahumara runners. The results of this study are expected to reveal unique genetic markers and physiological traits that contribute to the Tarahumara's abilities. These findings could have implications for understanding human endurance capabilities and the role of natural selection in shaping athletic performance within the Tarahumara tribe. The conclusion of this study will provide an understanding of the interplay between genetics, physiology, and endurance in the Tarahumara population.