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pleco
SFN Addict
USA
2998 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2006 : 19:57:46
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Link
quote:
A surprisingly recent instance of human evolution has been detected among the peoples of East Africa. It is the ability to digest milk in adulthood, conferred by genetic changes that occurred as recently as 3,000 years ago, a team of geneticists has found.
The finding is a striking example of a cultural practice — the raising of dairy cattle — feeding back into the human genome. It also seems to be one of the first instances of convergent human evolution to be documented at the genetic level. Convergent evolution refers to two or more populations acquiring the same trait independently.
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by Filthy
The neo-con methane machine will soon be running at full fart. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 12/10/2006 : 20:24:01 [Permalink]
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That's great stuff!
I was especially fascinated to see this about the lactose tolerance mutations:
"Genetic evidence shows that the mutations conferred an enormous selective advantage on their owners, enabling them to leave almost 10 times as many descendants as people without them."
Also, it is very interesting that the genes which turn on lactose tolerance are different in different lineages, but accomplish the same result.
Another triumph for Charles Darwin!
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 12/10/2006 20:42:23 |
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Neurosis
SFN Regular
USA
675 Posts |
Posted - 12/10/2006 : 21:48:00 [Permalink]
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| "Take that creationist, And that. HAYA!" |
Facts! Pssh, you can prove anything even remotely true with facts.
- Homer Simpson
[God] is an infinite nothing from nowhere with less power over our universe than the secretary of agriculture.
- Prof. Frink
Lisa: Yes, but wouldn't you rather know the truth than to delude yourself for happiness?
Marge: Well... um.... [goes outside to jump on tampoline with Homer.] |
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