High altitude adaptation is a complex physiological process that involves an increase in both the number of Hb molecules per erythrocyte and the total number of erythrocytes. It normally requires several weeks to complete. However, even after one day at high altitude, there is a significant degree of adaptation. This effect results from a rapid increase in the erythrocyte BPG concentration. a. Try to do this without looking at the graphs. If oxygen-binding curves for both high altitude adapted hemoglobin and normal, unadapted Hb were plotted together, would the curve for high altitude adapted Hb be to the left of, to the right of or the same as the curve for unadapted Hb? Explain.
b. Is the oxygen binding affinity of high-altitude adapted Hb higher, lower, or the same as that of unadapted Hb? Explain.