The Haenyeo, a group of female free divers who live on Jeju Island, are part of a fishing tradition that has existed for centuries. But what adaptations help them dive so far, for so long?
Lynn Gail/Robert Harding/Getty Images
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Lynn Gail/Robert Harding/Getty Images
The Haenyeo, a group of female free divers who live on Jeju Island, are part of a fishing tradition that has existed for centuries. But what adaptations help them dive so far, for so long?
Lynn Gail/Robert Harding/Getty Images
For generations, the all-female Haenyeo divers have routinely dove into frigid waters off the coast of South Korea, holding their breath for minutes at a time, as they collect seafood to eat and sell. These women start diving as girls and continue well into old age. And recent research suggests that it’s not just years of training that makes this feat possible – it’s also a set of special genetic adaptations. Science reporter Ari Daniel brings us the story.
Read more of Ari’s reporting here.
Have another story about biology and genetics for us to consider? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
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This episode was produced by Hannah Chinn, edited by our showrunner, Rebecca Ramirez, and fact-checked by Tyler Jones. Jimmy Keeley was the audio engineer.
