UCSC researchers have investigated how certain animals are protected from hypoxia by elevated levels of globins–oxygen-carrying proteins–in their brains.

The results suggest that some species have evolved the capacity to protect their brains from hypoxia. It’s not yet clear whether animals of a particular species are born with high amounts of brain globins, or whether their behavior and environment stimulate the production of globins. But in either case, the amounts appear to be malleable.

The discovery could have important implications for understanding stroke and aging in humans.