Milk, lactase, and gene distribution
1978
Newcomer, Albert D.
A number of hypotheses to explain the wide divergence in the prevalence of lactase deficiency are presented. Family studies among ethnic groups indicate that delayed-onset lactase deficiency is transmitted by an autosomal recessive gene. It is postulated that a mutation has occurred in a regulatory and not a structural gene. The wide divergence of lactase deficiency among ethnic groups is best explained by the finding that maintenance of lactase activity is common only among people who have used milk for thousands of years. A mutation that occurred ages ago has been preserved through the interaction of milk and a specific brush border digestive enzyme.
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by National Agricultural Library