Adaptation to milking agropastoralism in Chilean goat herders and nutritional benefit of lactase persistence.

ABSTRACT: The genetic trait of lactase persistence (LP) evolved as an adaptation to milking pastoralism in the Old World and is a well-known example of positive natural selection in humans. However, the specific mechanisms conferring this selective advantage are unknown. To understand the relationship between milk drinking, LP, growth, reproduction, and survival, communities of the Coquimbo Region in Chile, with recent adoption of milking agropastoralism, were used as a model population. DNA samples and data on stature, reproduction, and diet were collected from 451 participants. Lactose tolerance tests were done on 41 of them. The European -13,910*T (rs4988235) was the only LP causative variant found, showing strong association (99.6%) with LP phenotype. Models of associations of inferred LP status

SUBMITTER: Montalva N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6393766 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature