Adaptive shifts in gene regulation underlie a developmental delay in thermogenesis in high-altitude deer mice

Abstract Aerobic performance is tied to fitness as it influences an animal’s ability to find food, escape predators, or survive extreme conditions. At high altitude, where low O 2 availability and persistent cold prevail, maximum metabolic heat production (thermogenesis) is an aerobic performance trait that is intimately linked to survival. Understanding how thermogenesis evolves to enhance survival at high altitude will yield insight into the …