Dec

26

2023

Oxygen Dissociation Curve – Question

By William Aird


When we climb a mountain, our oxygen (O2) dissociation curve shifts to the right (lower O2 affinity, more O2 release to tissues). By contrast, mammals that are acclimatized to high altitude as well as human fetuses shift to the left.

Which direction is most adaptive at high altitude: left or right shift?