Health and Me

Ishita Roy

How The Buajau Sea Nomads Evolved Beyond Human Limits

How The Buajau Sea Nomads Have Evolved Beyond Human Limits

How The Bajau Sea Nomads Have Evolved?

How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: An enlarged Spleen Boosts Oxygen

<strong><span rel="noindex">Bajau Sea Nomads</span> </strong>have evolved beyond human limits. But how is that even possible? Remember Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection? The survival of the fittest? This is what kept the <span>Bajau</span> Sea Noamds going, and evolving. 

The Bajau people are sea nomads who survive by collecting shellfish from the sea floor. They come from South-East Asia, and study shows that they have developed bigger spleen for diving. They are known as 'Sea Gypsies' and are known to hold their breath for over five minutes, whereas highly trained professionals can hardly hold their breath for three to four minutes. Bajau divers spend hours underwater for fishing. They are also the world's only community of self-sufficient sea nomads, reported <em>The Guardian</em>. 

<h2>How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: What Does The Study Say?</h2>

A study published in the academic journal <em>Cell </em>notes that the effect of their underwater lifestyle reflected on their biology. Their spleens were larger than those of other people from the region. 

<h2>How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: How Does A Spleen Work?</h2>

Tucked just beside the stomach, the spleen is roughly the size of a fist and usually flies under the radar. Its everyday job is to filter old red blood cells from the blood. But under the right conditions, it can also act like a built-in oxygen reserve.

This hidden ability is especially important for the Bajau people, often called “sea nomads,” who live across parts of the southern Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Numbering roughly a million, the Bajau have relied almost entirely on the ocean for generations.

“For possibly thousands of years, they have been living on houseboats, travelling from place to place in the waters of South-East Asia and visiting land only occasionally,” said Melissa Ilardo from the University of Copenhagen, speaking to the BBC’s Inside Science. “Everything they need, they get from the sea.”

Read: <a href="http://healthandme.com/health-wellness/a-genetic-disorder-caused-this-indonesian-tribe-to-have-sparkling-blue-eyes-article-151653547" data-type="tilCustomLink" rel="noopener nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" rel= "noopener nofollow noreferrer" target= "_blank">A Genetic Disorder Caused This Indonesian Tribe To Have Sparkling Blue Eyes</a>

<h2>How The Bajau Sea Nomads Have Evolved?</h2>

The Bajau are known for their extraordinary free-diving abilities. When diving in the traditional way, they spend up to eight hours a day at sea, with around 60 percent of that time underwater. Individual dives can last anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes, often reaching depths of more than 70 metres.

What makes this even more remarkable is the equipment. Many Bajau divers use little more than a wooden mask or simple goggles and a weight belt. No oxygen tanks, no wetsuits, no modern diving aids.

This lifestyle prompted researchers to ask whether the Bajau body has adapted over time to support such extreme breath-hold diving.

According to Dr Ilardo, the spleen was an obvious place to look. Humans, like many marine mammals, have a natural “dive response” that kicks in when we hold our breath and submerge ourselves in water, especially cold water.

“When this response is triggered, your heart rate slows down,” she explained. “Blood vessels in your arms and legs constrict to preserve oxygen-rich blood for vital organs like the brain and heart.”

The final part of this response involves the spleen.

<h2>How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: An enlarged Spleen Boosts Oxygen</h2>

The spleen acts as a reservoir for oxygenated red blood cells. When it contracts during a dive, it releases these cells into the bloodstream, giving the body a temporary oxygen boost.

“It’s like a biological scuba tank,” Dr Ilardo said.

For people like the Bajau, who dive repeatedly every day, this spleen contraction can make a crucial difference, helping them stay underwater longer and recover faster between dives.

In short, what seems like an ordinary organ plays an extraordinary role, revealing how the human body can adapt in remarkable ways to extreme environments.

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Bajau Sea Nomads have evolved beyond human limits. But how is that even possible? Remember Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection? The survival of the fittest? This is what kept the Bajau Sea Noamds going, and evolving. The Bajau people are sea nomads who survive by collecting shellfish from the sea floor. They come from South-East Asia, and study shows that they have developed bigger spleen for diving. They are known as 'Sea Gypsies' and are known to hold their breath for over five minutes, whereas highly trained professionals can hardly hold their breath for three to four minutes. Bajau divers spend hours underwater for fishing. They are also the world's only community of self-sufficient sea nomads, reported The Guardian. How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: What Does The Study Say?    A study published in the academic journal Cell notes that the effect of their underwater lifestyle reflected on their biology. Their spleens were larger than those of other people from the region. How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: How Does A Spleen Work?Tucked just beside the stomach, the spleen is roughly the size of a fist and usually flies under the radar. Its everyday job is to filter old red blood cells from the blood. But under the right conditions, it can also act like a built-in oxygen reserve.This hidden ability is especially important for the Bajau people, often called “sea nomads,” who live across parts of the southern Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia. Numbering roughly a million, the Bajau have relied almost entirely on the ocean for generations.“For possibly thousands of years, they have been living on houseboats, travelling from place to place in the waters of South-East Asia and visiting land only occasionally,” said Melissa Ilardo from the University of Copenhagen, speaking to the BBC’s Inside Science. “Everything they need, they get from the sea.”Read: A Genetic Disorder Caused This Indonesian Tribe To Have Sparkling Blue EyesHow The Bajau Sea Nomads Have Evolved?The Bajau are known for their extraordinary free-diving abilities. When diving in the traditional way, they spend up to eight hours a day at sea, with around 60 percent of that time underwater. Individual dives can last anywhere from 30 seconds to several minutes, often reaching depths of more than 70 metres.What makes this even more remarkable is the equipment. Many Bajau divers use little more than a wooden mask or simple goggles and a weight belt. No oxygen tanks, no wetsuits, no modern diving aids.This lifestyle prompted researchers to ask whether the Bajau body has adapted over time to support such extreme breath-hold diving.According to Dr Ilardo, the spleen was an obvious place to look. Humans, like many marine mammals, have a natural “dive response” that kicks in when we hold our breath and submerge ourselves in water, especially cold water.“When this response is triggered, your heart rate slows down,” she explained. “Blood vessels in your arms and legs constrict to preserve oxygen-rich blood for vital organs like the brain and heart.”The final part of this response involves the spleen.How The Bajau Sea Nomads Evolved: An enlarged Spleen Boosts Oxygen    The spleen acts as a reservoir for oxygenated red blood cells. When it contracts during a dive, it releases these cells into the bloodstream, giving the body a temporary oxygen boost.“It’s like a biological scuba tank,” Dr Ilardo said.For people like the Bajau, who dive repeatedly every day, this spleen contraction can make a crucial difference, helping them stay underwater longer and recover faster between dives.In short, what seems like an ordinary organ plays an extraordinary role, revealing how the human body can adapt in remarkable ways to extreme environments.