How does climate change affect the shape of the human nose?

Analysis of a study showed that the width of the nostrils varies markedly with temperature and humidity, not genetic.

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania concluded, the shape of the human nose is based on each type of climate condition . The research results have just been published in the journal PLoS Genetics.

Thus, the shape of the human nose is not entirely set by the gene but depends on the climate where they live.

The shape of the human nose is based on the specific types of climatic conditions.(Illustration).

In general, the nostrils of people in warm and humid climates are often wider, people living in cold and dry climates are often narrower.

Scientists rely on 3D face images of Western Africans, South Asians, East Asians and Northern Europeans. Then, they recorded data on the width of the nostrils, the distance between the nostrils, the height of the nose.

The results show that the width of the nostrils changes markedly according to temperature and humidity, not genetic. This also shows that global climate change will make the shape of the human nose change in the future.

Climate change may change the shape of the human nose in the future.(Illustration).

The main purpose of the nose is to keep the air in our lungs always warm and humid, the researchers say.

The small and narrow nose shape will help the breath to be moist and warm faster thanks to the smaller, thinner air stream, the faster contact mucus.

Therefore, this nose shape is common in cold and cold climates. On the other hand, the more people live near the equator, the wider the nostrils.

However, the change of the climate system on the Earth today will have certain effects on the shape of the human nose.