Evolutionary Biology Essay Essay Example for Free

Evolutionary biology Essay EssayChecks article How Africa Learned to Love the Cow explores the studies and research of Sarah Tishkoff on patrimonial mutation and evolution of, more specifically, the gene that codes for lactase and lactase persistence within individuals in Africa. The absolute frequency with which these genes occur fluctuates dramatically, which is acknowledged in Tishkoffs study on Afri cannister populations, and account for allowance and intolerance of lactose within populace (Check). It is interesting to see that environment may affect contagious mutation within individuals as well. Tishkoffs research on lactose tolerance within public in Africa is a revolutionary prospect, which allows former(a)s to study the issue of lactose intolerance in adult tender-hearteds and view evolutionary trends in varied populations of humans, bringing new information and proof of evolution to the table. exclusively certain individuals from certain populations can tolera te take out as adults collectible to various factors, such as the presence of the gene that codes for the production of the enzyme lactase, natural selection, and vertical gene transfer. Lactase is essential for breaking down in the mouth lactose, a sugar within cow milk that would otherwise pass through a humans digestive system undigested (Check 1). Within adult humans, the gene that codes for the production of the enzyme lactase is sometimes inactive or missing, which causes the intolerance of milk and causes lactose to have unpleasant results (Check 1) if ingested by an individual. On the other hand, if this gene is present, there are multiple reasons as to why these individuals have it. According to anthropological studies in the 1960s, humans who tended and reared cattle for a living by and large had tolerance for milk as adults (Check 1).This could be due to the workings of natural selection and vertical gene transfer. It is possible that the ancestors of these humans, w ho could tolerate milk and could take returns of its nutritional benefits, had a higher survival rate than the individuals who could not tolerate milk since diarrhea, which is a putting green result of lactose indigestion, exacerbates dehydration and can prove fatal during a famine or drouth (Check 3).This would then lead to vertical gene transfer, which refers to the transfer of genes to offspring from sexual reproduction. If an individual with favorable genes were to mate, his genetic code could possibly be transferred to his offspring, which explains lactase persistence within humans at present. It is interesting to note that the existence of this lactase gene that has such specific, easily identifiable purposes, and frequency of appearance in unrelated individuals are strong indicators of convergent evolution (Check 1).The Homo Neanderthalensis is an extinct species that mainly survived on the hunter/ accumulator lifestyle, scavenging for sustenance and hunting animals for foo d with this in mind, it is highly possible that these individuals were lactose intolerant. Since the Homo Neanderthalensis were hunter/gatherers who relied on other methods of surviving than rearing and domesticating cattle, the idea of drinking milk from cattle rather than immediately sidesplitting it for meat was most likely foreign and is telling evidence that they most likely were lactose intolerant. This can be inferred due to the research presented earlier that adult individuals with more exposure to cattle rearing were generally had a higher chance of lactase persistence than those who did not raise or domesticate cattle for survival.Judging by past research and Tishkoffs study in Africa, if a population was to tick drinking milk for a prolonged period of time through multiple generations due to the world and increased availability of other foods and resources, that population may develop a lactose intolerance that was not present before. This is due to the idea that exten ded experience with milk results in a higher frequency of the gene that codes for lactase production. This effect is magnified with the presence of other evolutionary and genetic trends that occur naturally such as vertical genetic transfer.Today, lactose intolerance within adults remains a general issue. With the advent of lactose-free milks such as soymilk, the problem may have been somewhat appeased for lactose intolerant milk lovers. However, the fact remains that many adults still cannot tolerate milk. With the research of numerous anthropologists, geneticists, and Tishkoff, we can make ace of why this is still an issue and present educated inferences about our history.