Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Evolution is proved and re-proved every day in the pages of scientific journals, but here's one that even a holy roller should be able to understand:
Around the time of moses, a gene which allows adults to digest cow's milk started spreading widely in Europeans. )Probably works with goats and horses, not sure about reindeer.) Those with the gene were better able to make it through the winter. Today, 90% of Europeans have the gene. (I'm using Europeans in a slightly recursive way - white people, as opposed to people currently in europe.)Today, being lactose intolerant probably isn't deadly in scandinavia, so the gene may stop spreading. But in 7000 years evolution worked. In the 4 million years since humans split with chimps, many such little changes took place, as we became who we are. And this is co-evolution - it wasn't a useful trait until the cow was domesticated. So late stone age technology changed our genes.
Milk tolerance gene emerged recently
Researchers at University College London have found evidence that the milk-digesting gene emerged in Europe more recently than 5000 BC. The gene spread quickly across Europe, conferring a giant survival advantage in those who had it, because they could live on milk through cold, hard winters.
Analysis of Neolithic remains, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests no European adults could digest the drink at that time.
University College London scientists say that the rapid spread of a gene which lets us reap the benefits of milk shows evolution in action...
Today, more than 90% of people of northern European origin have the gene...
Dr Mark Thomas, from UCL, said: "The ability to drink milk is the most advantageous trait that's evolved in Europeans in the recent past."
Link (via Plasticbag)
posted by Cory Doctorow at 05:48:10 AM permalink | blogs' comments Boingboing.net.
Around the time of moses, a gene which allows adults to digest cow's milk started spreading widely in Europeans. )Probably works with goats and horses, not sure about reindeer.) Those with the gene were better able to make it through the winter. Today, 90% of Europeans have the gene. (I'm using Europeans in a slightly recursive way - white people, as opposed to people currently in europe.)Today, being lactose intolerant probably isn't deadly in scandinavia, so the gene may stop spreading. But in 7000 years evolution worked. In the 4 million years since humans split with chimps, many such little changes took place, as we became who we are. And this is co-evolution - it wasn't a useful trait until the cow was domesticated. So late stone age technology changed our genes.
Milk tolerance gene emerged recently
Researchers at University College London have found evidence that the milk-digesting gene emerged in Europe more recently than 5000 BC. The gene spread quickly across Europe, conferring a giant survival advantage in those who had it, because they could live on milk through cold, hard winters.
Analysis of Neolithic remains, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests no European adults could digest the drink at that time.
University College London scientists say that the rapid spread of a gene which lets us reap the benefits of milk shows evolution in action...
Today, more than 90% of people of northern European origin have the gene...
Dr Mark Thomas, from UCL, said: "The ability to drink milk is the most advantageous trait that's evolved in Europeans in the recent past."
Link (via Plasticbag)
posted by Cory Doctorow at 05:48:10 AM permalink | blogs' comments Boingboing.net.
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