ancients

Yesterday we reported on a new study of our ancient Neolithic ancestors who first began the practice of dairy-related animal husbandry and discussed the implications this may have with regards to the controversial questions – should human’s drink cow’s milk? Now a second study has just been published in The American Journal of Human Genetics tracing the origins of the ability to digest milk in Ethiopia. A genetic phenomenon, called ‘soft selective sweep’, which allows for the selection of multiple genetic mutations that all lead to a similar outcome - the ability to digest milk - has been characterised for the first time in humans. The study demonstrated that individuals from the Eastern African population have adapted to be able