Latest news with #Haenyeo
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
South Korean Haenyeo Divers' Extreme Lifestyle Is Shaping Their Genetics
Often likened to mermaids in media reports and popular culture, South Korea's famed Haenyeo ('sea women') spend much of the day underwater, diving without scuba gear to collect abalone, octopus, kelp and other prized seafood. Admired both culturally and scientifically, they have been plunging into the frigid waters of Jeju Island since as early as 503 C.E. Now, for the first time, a study has found both genetic adaptations and training effects that are unique to these women and could explain how the Haenyeo withstand the intense physical stresses that come with continuous diving. The findings, published in Cell Reports, zero in on specific genetic features of the Haenyeo that allow the bodies of these divers to more efficiently control blood pressure, for example. The researchers hope closer investigations into such genetic traits could inform future approaches to certain disorders or illnesses in the general population. 'The Haenyeo are really like superhumans,' says Melissa A. Ilardo, senior author of the study and an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Utah. 'You cannot watch the Haenyeo dive and not think these women have superpowers.' [Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter] It's easy to see the Haenyeo as enigmatic. For centuries, they have conspicuously maintained their own culture and style. They sport unique broad-rimmed sun visors and tattooed eyebrows, and their skin is tanned and weathered by a lifetime of wind and saltwater. After Haenyeo divers age past their diving years, they still stick close to the sea and work along the shoreline, often tying a cushion to their backside to rest on as they lay kelp out to dry. They have kept their tradition afloat through Japan's decades-long occupation of the Korean Peninsula, massacres under dictatorships and relentless industrial development. And the new study suggests that there might even be a ring of scientific truth to 'superpower' analogy. 'Given that [the Haenyeo] have this unique culture, unique language—all these things that are so different—it seems obvious that there would be some genetic differences,' Ilardo says. 'But that wasn't something that had ever been investigated.' Ilardo, who studies genetics of medically resilient humans around the world at her aptly named Superhuman Lab, had previously examined the physiology of a diving people called the Bajau in Southeast Asia. Her team found the Bajau had an extra large spleens that could store additional oxygenated blood for lengthy dives. 'If one group of divers had evolved to dive, then maybe others have as well,' Ilardo says. The Haenyeo—with their long diving history—stood out to the crew at the Superhuman Lab as another population that could have developed diving advantages. 'What's interesting about studying populations who have lived in a particular environment for many, many generations is that if there's been a selective pressure in that environment, you can look at their genomes and start to pull out regions that appear to be essential for their survival,' explains Tatum Simonson, a geneticist at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the new study. Those essential genetic irregularities are 'probably linked to some aspect of physiology that has been beneficial over time in that environment.' For the new study on the Haenyeo, the Superhuman Lab collaborated with physiologists from South Korea to simulate the effects of submersion on the divers themselves, compared with non-Haenyeo Jeju residents and mainland South Koreans. Participants laid on their stomach with their head over a bowl of cold water, periodically plunging their face under while the researchers measured how their reflexive submersion responses changed their heart rate and blood pressure. The participants were all from the same country, yet they showed striking differences in these changes. Ilardo thinks that could be a direct result of natural selection. For example, 'sleep apnea—which is kind of like unintentional diving in your sleep [in that it reduces oxygen availability]—increases the risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy,' she explains, adding that these can include preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication that can dangerously raise blood pressure). The Haenyeo are known to continue diving while pregnant, she notes. 'If diving is increasing [a Haenyeo diver's] risk of preeclampsia, that could take out an entire generation,' Ilardo says. But the Haenyeo aren't known to have a particularly high risk of hypertensive pregnancy disorders, and they have obviously birthed many generations of babies. Ilardo's research suggests it's likely that a gene allowing for better regulation of blood pressure has been passed down through the years. Interestingly, the team found that all Jeju residents—even those without a Haenyeo family member—had a similar genetic variation that suppressed a reflexive blood pressure increase when diving. This suggests that the variation may have naturally spread throughout the island. It would also support Jeju's surprisingly low stroke death rate, which is around 24.3 per 100,000 for not just the Haenyeo but all of the island's residents—lower than the mainland city of Seoul's rate of 25.7 per 100,000 and the U.S.'s rate of 37 per 100,000. But Ilardo notes that some physiological differences, such as heartbeat changes, were unique to the Haenyeo. During the face-dunking experiment, Haenyeo participants' heart rates slowed by 50 percent more, on average, compared with nondiver Jeju residents. This helps their bodies manage oxygen circulation through their bodies during a long dive, letting them 'spend that resource as frugally as possible,' Ilardo says. She adds that this acquired trait could also develop in nondiver individuals who are not from Jeju Island. While the study did not test participants' cold tolerance, that is something the Superhuman Lab is planning to investigate in future work with the Haenyeo. Researchers can learn vital lessons about human evolution from such unique adaptations, says Ben Trumble, an Arizona State University biologist who specializes in human biology and was not involved in the new study. Cataloging the lifestyle and genes of special populations such as the Haenyeo could inform research into areas such as precision medicine, which requires a specialized understanding of how certain genetic variations translate into physiological traits, Trumble explains. 'We're absolutely allowed to plagiarize from natural selection' in approaching health care, he says. 'How natural selection solves a particular problem with a particular gene can give us clues for developing new drugs to treat some of the problems that people have in our society today.' Studies such as Ilardo's take the 'first step' toward medical applications, Trumble says, although he and Simonson believe any actual drugs that could emerge from such research will probably take longer to develop. In any case, Ilardo says, being able to pinpoint the genetic cause behind certain populations' remarkable abilities could offer remarkable solutions in medical genetics. 'I was just blown away by how amazing [the Haenyeo] are, how strong they are and how they balance that with this kindness and sensitivity and femininity,' Ilardo says. 'I think by focusing on what makes the population special and unique..., it brings a health focus instead of a disease focus [to medical genetics research]. And it's certainly a much more fun way to do the science.'
Scientific American
a day ago
- Science
- Scientific American
These ‘Real-Life Mermaid' Divers Have Remarkable Underwater Abilities—and Genetics
Often likened to mermaids in media reports and popular culture, South Korea's famed Haenyeo ('sea women') spend much of the day underwater, diving without scuba gear to collect abalone, octopus, kelp and other prized seafood. Admired both culturally and scientifically, they have been plunging into the frigid waters of Jeju Island since as early as 503 C.E. Now, for the first time, a study has found both genetic adaptations and training effects that are unique to these women and could explain how the Haenyeo withstand the intense physical stresses that come with continuous diving. The findings, published in Cell Reports, zero in on specific genetic features of the Haenyeo that allow the bodies of these divers to more efficiently control blood pressure, for example. The researchers hope closer investigations into such genetic traits could inform future approaches to certain disorders or illnesses in the general population. 'The Haenyeo are really like superhumans,' says Melissa A. Ilardo, senior author of the study and an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Utah. 'You cannot watch the Haenyeo dive and not think these women have superpowers.' On supporting science journalism subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. It's easy to see the Haenyeo as enigmatic. For centuries, they have conspicuously maintained their own culture and style. They sport unique broad-rimmed sun visors and tattooed eyebrows, and their skin is tanned and weathered by a lifetime of wind and saltwater. After Haenyeo divers age past their diving years, they still stick close to the sea and work along the shoreline, often tying a cushion to their backside to rest on as they lay kelp out to dry. They have kept their tradition afloat through Japan's decades-long occupation of the Korean Peninsula, massacres under dictatorships and relentless industrial development. And the new study suggests that there might even be a ring of scientific truth to 'superpower' analogy. 'Given that [the Haenyeo ] have this unique culture, unique language—all these things that are so different—it seems obvious that there would be some genetic differences,' Ilardo says. 'But that wasn't something that had ever been investigated.' Ilardo, who studies genetics of medically resilient humans around the world at her aptly named Superhuman Lab, had previously examined the physiology of a diving people called the Bajau in Southeast Asia. Her team found the Bajau had an extra large spleens that could store additional oxygenated blood for lengthy dives. 'If one group of divers had evolved to dive, then maybe others have as well,' Ilardo says. The Haenyeo —with their long diving history—stood out to the crew at the Superhuman Lab as another population that could have developed diving advantages. 'What's interesting about studying populations who have lived in a particular environment for many, many generations is that if there's been a selective pressure in that environment, you can look at their genomes and start to pull out regions that appear to be essential for their survival,' explains Tatum Simonson, a geneticist at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the new study. Those essential genetic irregularities are 'probably linked to some aspect of physiology that has been beneficial over time in that environment.' For the new study on the Haenyeo, the Superhuman Lab collaborated with physiologists from South Korea to simulate the effects of submersion on the divers themselves, compared with non- Haenyeo Jeju residents and mainland South Koreans. Participants laid on their stomach with their head over a bowl of cold water, periodically plunging their face under while the researchers measured how their reflexive submersion responses changed their heart rate and blood pressure. The participants were all from the same country, yet they showed striking differences in these changes. Ilardo thinks that could be a direct result of natural selection. For example, 'sleep apnea—which is kind of like unintentional diving in your sleep [in that it reduces oxygen availability]—increases the risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy,' she explains, adding that these can include preeclampsia (a pregnancy complication that can dangerously raise blood pressure). The Haenyeo are known to continue diving while pregnant, she notes. 'If diving is increasing [a Haenyeo diver's] risk of preeclampsia, that could take out an entire generation,' Ilardo says. But the Haenyeo aren't known to have a particularly high risk of hypertensive pregnancy disorders, and they have obviously birthed many generations of babies. Ilardo's research suggests it's likely that a gene allowing for better regulation of blood pressure has been passed down through the years. Interestingly, the team found that all Jeju residents—even those without a Haenyeo family member—had a similar genetic variation that suppressed a reflexive blood pressure increase when diving. This suggests that the variation may have naturally spread throughout the island. It would also support Jeju's surprisingly low stroke death rate, which is around 24.3 per 100,000 for not just the Haenyeo but all of the island's residents—lower than the mainland city of Seoul's rate of 25.7 per 100,000 and the U.S.'s rate of 37 per 100,000. But Ilardo notes that some physiological differences, such as heartbeat changes, were unique to the Haenyeo. During the face-dunking experiment, Haenyeo participants' heart rates slowed by 50 percent more, on average, compared with nondiver Jeju residents. This helps their bodies manage oxygen circulation through their bodies during a long dive, letting them 'spend that resource as frugally as possible,' Ilardo says. She adds that this acquired trait could also develop in nondiver individuals who are not from Jeju Island. While the study did not test participants' cold tolerance, that is something the Superhuman Lab is planning to investigate in future work with the Haenyeo. Researchers can learn vital lessons about human evolution from such unique adaptations, says Ben Trumble, an Arizona State University biologist who specializes in human biology and was not involved in the new study. Cataloging the lifestyle and genes of special populations such as the Haenyeo could inform research into areas such as precision medicine, which requires a specialized understanding of how certain genetic variations translate into physiological traits, Trumble explains. 'We're absolutely allowed to plagiarize from natural selection' in approaching health care, he says. 'How natural selection solves a particular problem with a particular gene can give us clues for developing new drugs to treat some of the problems that people have in our society today.' Studies such as Ilardo's take the 'first step' toward medical applications, Trumble says, although he and Simonson believe any actual drugs that could emerge from such research will probably take longer to develop. In any case, Ilardo says, being able to pinpoint the genetic cause behind certain populations' remarkable abilities could offer remarkable solutions in medical genetics. 'I was just blown away by how amazing [the Haenyeo ] are, how strong they are and how they balance that with this kindness and sensitivity and femininity,' Ilardo says. 'I think by focusing on what makes the population special and unique..., it brings a health focus instead of a disease focus [to medical genetics research]. And it's certainly a much more fun way to do the science.'
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Straits Times
With buoy and camera, millennial diver redefines life as a Jeju haenyeo
Haenyeo culture has been inscribed on Unesco's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM _GO.RANI/INSTAGRAM SEOUL - For centuries, women on South Korea's Jeju Island have dived deep into the sea to harvest seafood to provide for their families. Called haenyeo, which literally means 'sea women', they rely solely on breath-holding techniques, diving as deep as 10m and staying underwater for up to two minutes, without the aid of breathing equipment. Their gear is minimal: a simple diving mask, lead weights around the waist to help them descend and a buoy called a tewak — a basketball-sized float with a net attached beneath to hold their catch. But in the village of Hagwi-ri, eastern Jeju, one haenyeo carries something extra into the water: a camera. At 32, Ms Lee Ah-ran is the youngest haenyeo in the village. Underwater, she harvests sea cucumbers, abalone and other marine delicacies just like her older peers. Above the surface, however, she transforms into a social media storyteller. Her Instagram account has attracted more than 50,000 followers, drawing attention to the daily lives of haenyeo and the beauty of Jeju's ocean landscapes. Haenyeo school graduate Ms Lee is a graduate of the Beophwan Haenyeo School in Seogwipo, one of the two institutions on Jeju established to train the next generation of haenyeo. She went on to complete a three-month internship with the Hagwi-ri village fisheries cooperative to become a full-fledged haenyeo. Since haenyeo culture has been inscribed on Unesco's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, South Korean authorities protect the island's female divers with various measures. A state-issued license is issued to divers who meet several criteria: at least 60 days of diving per year, a minimum of 1.2 million won (S$1,126) in annual earnings from diving and approval from both the local fisheries cooperative and all the other haenyeo in Hagwi-ri. Ms Lee emphasised that being a haenyeo is about more than just diving deep or holding one's breath. The true essence, she said, lies not in how far you can dive, but in how well you rise together with others. 'At haenyeo school, we learn various techniques — breath control, duck diving, seafood harvesting,' she told The Korea Herald. 'But honestly, what's more important is understanding the culture and philosophy of the haenyeo community.' At 32, Ms Lee Ah-ran is the youngest haenyeo in the village. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM _GO.RANI/INSTAGRAM During her internship, Ms Lee joined senior haenyeo in the sea, where her teamwork was closely observed. 'The fisheries cooperative evaluates how well you work as part of a team,' she said. 'That's because no haenyeo dives alone. We enter the water together, hold our breath in rhythm and share both the risks and the rewards.' Before taking the plunge into haenyeo life, Ms Lee spent nearly a decade as a dental hygienist and in marketing at a corporation. So when she began this new chapter, it felt natural to document and share it on social media. Through photos and videos, she has captured everything from muljil, the Korean term for free-diving for marine products, to everyday moments with senior divers, as well as the striking natural beauty of Jeju's coastline and its seasonal canola flower fields in full bloom. 'I didn't start with the goal of becoming a content creator. I simply wanted to capture the beauty of Jeju and and how it makes me feel. Over time, diving became a huge part of my life, and that naturally turned into (online) content,' she said. 'Now, it's not really about proving I'm a haenyeo, but more about recording this life with pride.' Her day as a haenyeo flows with the sea. She dives for roughly three hours each day, adjusting her schedule based on tide levels, currents and wind, which decide whether she enters the water in the early morning or afternoon. Given the unpredictable conditions at sea, diving alone doesn't provide a steady income, so many haenyeo rely on side jobs like seafood sales or restaurant work to make ends meet, according to Ms Lee. 'It's frustrating when ocean conditions improve and I finally get a chance to dive, but it overlaps with my side job. When that happens over and over again, it can be exhausting,' she said. 'But the fact that diving into the sea with just my breath and returning with something in hand gives me a deep sense of pride. It also feels really rewarding to know that I'm helping keep one of the island's oldest traditions alive.' 'Baby' haenyeo makes new waves Haenyeo and their culture is facing a quiet but pressing crisis: The numbers of divers are shrinking and their average age is rising fast. According to data from the Jeju Provincial Government, the number of active haenyeo dropped to 2,839 in 2024, a decrease of 216 — or 7.6 per cent — from 2023. That figure represents a nearly 40 per cent plunge from 2014, when there were 4,377 divers. Today, over 90 per cent of active haenyeo — some 2,565 women — are 60 or older. As the only haenyeo in her 30s in the village, Ms Lee has earned the affectionate nickname, 'the baby', from her senior colleagues. But she is no passive apprentice. Ms Lee is reshaping what it means to be a haenyeo — not just by diving, but by documenting, sharing and advocating. This millennial haenyeo plays a unique role in the community by documenting marine life with an underwater camera, providing data on species and density that gives senior divers a clearer idea of what to expect before entering the water. On land, Ms Lee transforms from diver to digital storyteller. Her social media posts and videos introduce her village and Jeju's scenic coastlines to a growing global audience. 'I hope Jeju's haenyeo culture is seen not as a tourist attraction, but as a living heritage. To make that happen, I believe it's important for haenyeo themselves to actively share their stories and communicate with the outside world. I'm more than willing to play my part in that,' she said. 'With a tewak in the sea and a camera on land, I move between two worlds, crafting a life that's truly mine.' Having experienced the effects of climate change first-hand in the water, she now sees raising awareness about the fragile marine ecosystem through social media as one of her personal missions. 'In the summer, water temperatures often exceed 32 deg C, disrupting the growth of seaweed and marine species. Climate change and marine pollution are real and pressing issues for those of us who depend on the ocean to make a living,' she said. 'As a haenyeo and as someone living in these times, I feel a deep responsibility to speak out. Whether it's joining environmental campaigns or picking up trash, I believe haenyeo must be the voice for the silent ocean.' THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
India.com
20-05-2025
- Science
- India.com
These women are called lioness of sea, can remain inside water without oxygen for hours , scientists are...., they are from....
South Korean girls- Representative AI image Special women of South Korea: You must have heard stories about sea mermaids which, according to folklore are aquatic creatures with the head and upper body of a female human and they they can easily swim and live in water as long as they need to. Would you believe if we tell you that there are humans who can deep dive into frozen cold waters and stay there for a very long time without any oxygen support? As per a report carried by DW, there exists a small island off the Korean coast which is home to a genetically distinct population of humans who have special powers to protect their body in extreme cold temperatures. Here are all the details you need to know about the special women of the South Korea island. Special women of South Korea The report calls the special humans of South Korea as Haenyeo — literally 'sea women'. They are Korean cultural divers who have specific adaptations in their body allowing them to dive for longer periods than other people. Moreover, the inhabitants of the South Korean island appear to have unique genes that protect their bodies against blood pressure changes while they are diving in extremely low temperatures. 'They now wear wetsuits, but up until the 1980s they were diving in these cotton bodysuits,' Melissa Ilardo, a geneticist at the University of Utah working with these women, was quoting as saying. Special genes of South Korean women As per the report, the special genes of these women provides them an increased tolerance for cold – a trait that allows these women to endure wind-chilled waters hovering near zero degrees Celsius. 'If we can understand how their bodies manage oxygen and regulate blood pressure so effectively, we may be able to translate these insights into therapies for cardiovascular diseases.' Ilardo added.
News18
19-05-2025
- Science
- News18
Who Are Haenyeo? These Women Dive Into Freezing Seas Without Oxygen Support
Far from the glittering capitals of modernity, on a windswept volcanic island off the southern coast of South Korea, live some of the world's most remarkable women. Known as Haenyeo, or 'sea women", these female free divers of Jeju Island have, for centuries, braved the bitterly cold waters of the Korea Strait without the aid of oxygen tanks, plunging into the deep to harvest seaweed, shellfish, and abalone. What makes their feats even more astonishing is their age. Many Haenyeo are between 60 and 80 years old. They continue to dive, sometimes for hours each day, even in near-freezing temperatures, their resilience defying both physical expectation and scientific logic. Until now.
