The Origins of the Ability to Breathe in Humans

Human life must have the ability to breathe, but do we know the origin of the ability to breathe. A group of scientists from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks managed to uncover the evolution or origin Vertebrate, including human beings may have the ability to breathe.

"To breathe with lungs, we need more than just your lungs. Neural networks that we need to be sensitive to carbon dioxide," says Michael Harris, leader of the research team. According to Harris, the neural networks that make humans or other vertebrate groups able to breathe in oxygen which is then converted by the cells into energy and emit carbon dioxide as metabolic waste.

Lampreys are ancient fish that have characteristics similar to the first vertebrates. They do not have lungs and do not breathe air. (Picture from: http://frontierscientists.com/)

Quoted from ScienceDaily, the breathing capability of human evolution and Vertebrate tain inseparable from the development of the neural networks are sensitive to the carbon dioxide that scientists call the "rhythm generator". In his research, Harris along with a team trying to find the origin of the rhythm generator. He believes the ability to breathe is not derived from animals that have had lung, but that has rhythm generator. "We're trying to examine an example of living breathing animals, such as the lamprey and tried to see evidence rhythm generator that can perform activities other than breathing," said Harris.

Lamprey anatomy. (Picture from: http://www.savalli.us/)

Lamprey is a type of primitive fish, has no lungs and breathing the same mechanism to vertebrates. As larvae, they live in tubes dug into soft mud and breathe and feed by pumping water through their bodies. When mud or debris clogs a lamprey’s tube, they use a cough-like behavior to expel water and clear the tube. A rhythm generator in their brain controls that behavior.

The evolution of the walk up to the ability of fish to breathe later. In its development, the evolution of land animals that gave rise to include amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. Capability continues to evolve suitable breathing environment encountered. The ability of humans breathe today is inseparable from the long process behind it. The results were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience on Wednesday (17/10) in New Orleans, USA. *** [SCIENCEDAILY | SEPTI | PIKIRAN RAKYAT 22112012]

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