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- Title
How long have adult humans been consuming milk?
- Authors
Gerbault, Pascale; Roffet‐Salque, Mélanie; Evershed, Richard P.; Thomas, Mark G.
- Abstract
Lactase is the enzyme that breaks down the milk sugar lactose, and in most mammals, including most humans, lactase activity is down-regulated after the weaning period is completed. However, in about 35% of adults worldwide, lactase continues to be expressed throughout adulthood, a feature termed lactase persistence (LP). Genetic evidence indicates that LP is a recent human adaptation, and its current geographic distribution correlates with the relative historical importance of dairying in different human populations. Investigating archaeological evidence for fresh milk consumption has proved crucial in building an account of the joint evolution of LP and dairying. A powerful technique for investigating food processing, including milk processing, in ancient populations is lipid residue analysis on archaeological pottery. We review here the archaeological and genetic evidence available that have contributed to a better understanding of the gene-culture co-evolution of LP and dairying. © 2013 IUBMB Life, 65(12):983-990, 2013.
- Subjects
MILK consumption; LACTASE; LACTOSE; ENZYME kinetics; GENE expression; GAS chromatography; FATTY acids
- Publication
IUBMB Life, 2013, Vol 65, Issue 12, p983
- ISSN
1521-6543
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/iub.1227