Trek from sea level to Everest Base Camp and the pressure of oxygen in the air will halve. Make it to the summit and it sits at just a third of sea level values. Why is it that some people are capable of summiting Everest without supplemental oxygen and some are not? What factors affect performance at altitude and why do traditional explanations of acclimatisation not paint the full picture? Dr Andrew Murray, a mitochondrial biologist at Cambridge University, joins us to talk about his work with the Xtreme Everest group and how work done at altitude can translate to improved care for patients at sea level. 

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