Re: milk and human sociobiology
Gerold Firl (geroldf@sdd.hp.com)
22 Jan 1997 20:44:46 GMT
In article <shafey-2201971518110001@mia-fl3-26.ix.netcom.com>, shafey@ix.netcom.com (omar shafey) writes:
|> In article <5c5fo0$lif@mtinsc05.worldnet.att.net>, rs222@worldnet.att.net
|> (Robert Snower) wrote:
|> > geroldf@sdd.hp.com (Gerold Firl) wrote:
|> >
|> > >Here is an interesting question: did the genes for lactose tolerance
|> > >diffuse outward from a single source, or did evolution locally select
|> > >for it in areas where cattle were kept for meat? Actually, both
|> > >processes undoubtedly occured, but which was faster?
|> > To me the more interesting question is, why did the lactose
|> > intolerance develop? And when? And why was it adaptive?
|> I hope someone can help me out with references on this subject but I
|> recall that the evolutionary biological hypothesis for the prevalence of
|> lactose intolerance among African and Mediterranean peoples (among others)
|> suggests that melanin (skin color) is a crucial factor.
Doesn't seem likely. Lactose intolerance (LI) is common among many
mammels upon reaching adulthood; it is the norm, rather than a trait
which actively evolved in humans.
Digesting milk requires particular enzymes, which would be of no use
to an adult mammal - unless, of course, an artificial supply of milk
is made availible by dairy technology.
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=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---- Gerold Firl @ ..hplabs!hp-sdd!geroldf
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