Ancient DNA analysis reveals high frequency of European lactase persistence allele (T-13910) in medieval central europe.

ABSTRACT: Ruminant milk and dairy products are important food resources in many European, African, and Middle Eastern societies. These regions are also associated with derived genetic variants for lactase persistence. In mammals, lactase, the enzyme that hydrolyzes the milk sugar lactose, is normally down-regulated after weaning, but at least five human populations around the world have independently evolved mutations regulating the expression of the lactase-phlorizin-hydrolase gene. These mutations result in a dominant lactase persistence phenotype and continued lactase tolerance in adulthood. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at C/T-13910 is responsible for most lactase persistence in European populations, but when and where the T-13910 polymorphism originated and the evolutionary processes b

SUBMITTER: Kruttli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3900515 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature