Europeans intolerant to lactose for 5,000 years after they adopted agriculture

[tentacle]

By analyzing DNA from petrous bones of ancient Europeans, scientists have identified these peoples remained intolerant to lactose (natural sugar in the milk of mammals) for 5,000 years after they adopted agricultural practices. The scientific team examined nuclear ancient DNA extracted from thirteen individuals from burials from archaeological sites in the Great Hungarian Plain. The skeletons sampled date from 5,700 BC (Early Neolithic) to 800 BC (Iron Age).

 

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141021125935.htm

[Robittybob1]

It is quite interesting to describe the logistics of how the human population becomes lactose tolerant.

I've been trying to workout the selective advantage aspect. Those that drunk milk got diarrhoea so didn't get the opportunities to mate. Or was it the ones who could handle milk as adults were better earners and had more kids hence their genes dominated.

I could imagine in times of famine when milk might have the only source of nutrition lactose tolerance would be a critical factor.

So the genes most probably would have been introduced from outside the community being studied here.

Edited November 18, 2014 by Robittybob1