How humans are evolving to work underwater

Bajau divers

A Bajau diver with wooden mask Source: M. Ilardo

The secret to holding your breath for long periods underwater may have been revealed: it's all in the spleen.


We now know this thanks to a new study of an indigenous population known for their extraordinary underwater breath-holding abilities.

The Bajau people of Southeast Asia are believed to be able to hold their breath for up to 13 minutes at a time - and research shows it's because their genes have changed to give them unusually large spleens.


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How humans are evolving to work underwater | SBS Filipino