Learning From Whales: Oxygen, Ecosystems and Human Health (2024-2025)
Hypoxia, a dangerous condition in which tissues are deprived of oxygen, poses a major challenge in human health, occurring in conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, cancer, COVID-19, anesthesia and more. Unlike humans, marine mammals like deep-diving whales have evolved extraordinary adaptations that allow them to survive extended periods without oxygen. Goose-beaked whales off the North Carolina coast, for example, have been recorded holding their breath for nearly four hours-the longest known dive of any mammal. This project asked whether studying these animals’ resilience to oxygen deprivation could reveal new pathways to protect vulnerable species and inform clinical strategies for treating hypoxia in humans.
Over the past year, the team members built on earlier discoveries about whales’ unusually high mitochondrial function and genetic adaptations linked to hypoxia resilience. Kaylee McKinzie examined mitochondrial changes under oxygen stress, showing striking differences between humans and whales. Austin Simpson investigated DNA methylation, exploring connections between hypoxia, cellular stress and aging. Emma Stewart developed organoid models to study inflammation and hypoxia responses across different cell types, laying groundwork for her doctoral research. Hannah Baetge focused on fatty acid oxidation as an alternative energy pathway under hypoxia, revealing promising new connections between nutrition, mitochondria and resilience.
The team’s work was presented at several symposiums on campus, an international conference, and was used to build new collaborations and grant proposals. Emma Stewart, Austin Simpson, and Hannah Baetge received a student research award, which they will use to continue their work over the next year. Publications are expected from both the cell culture and dolphin sub-teams.
Timing
Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
Team Outputs
Linking Genetics and Cellular Physiology to Understand Hypoxia Adaptation in Marine Mammals (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 16, 2025)
Presentation at an international conference
Grant proposals
Marine Mammal Methylation: The Key to Low-Oxygen Resilience in Deep Divers (2025 Student Research Award recipient)
See earlier related team, Learning from Whales: Oxygen, Ecosystems, and Human Health (2023-2024).
Image: Aerial view of gray whale cow and calf, by Wayne Perryman NMFS/SWFSC/PRD, NOAA Fisheries