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Re: milk and human sociobiology
Barry Mennen (barrym2@ix.netcom.com(Barry)
22 Jan 1997 03:24:27 GMT
In <5c3c97$ecp@news.sdd.hp.com> geroldf@sdd.hp.com (Gerold Firl)
writes:
>
>I am interested in the evolution of dairying, both as a cultural
>process and a biological one. In fact, this is a perfect example of a
>process which can *only* occur as a synchronous socio/biological
>evolution, where people learn how to use their domesticates as dairy
>animals and integrate new customs into the culture, while at the same
>time spreading the genes for adult lactose tolerance throughout the
>population. I'm wondering how well that process is understood; I
>haven't seen much comment in the literature.
>
>Based on the limited extant of lactose tolerance among human
>populations (concentrated among speakers of IE, semitic, and
>nilo-saharan languages) it appears that lactose toleration became
>an adaptive trait fairly recently. Campbell cites tentative dates of
>3500-4000 bc for polychrome mosaics of the milking, straining, and
>storing of milk at the temple complex of Obeid in iraq; this is the
>earliest evidence of dairying that I am aware of. Has the dating been
>refined? And does evidence of earlier dairying exist?
>
>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?
>
>--
>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>Disclaimer claims dat de claims claimed in dis are de claims of
meself,
>me, and me alone, so sue us god. I won't tell Bill & Dave if you
won't.
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=---- Gerold Firl @
..hplabs!hp-sdd!geroldf
Does lactose intolerance (LI) really lead to differnetial reproductive
rates and ultimately, success or failure? Persons with LI can deal with
milk products but get gassy and crampy, etc. It is not fatal.
Barry M.
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