Charles Darwin was lactose intolerant, researchers deduce, adding a fresh twist to the mystery of what caused his 40-year-long illness.
This would explain the bouts of vomiting, stomach pains, severe tiredness, skin problems and depression Darwin suffered, symptoms a new report says improved when he stopped eating milk and cream.
His family also suffered in a similar way, suggesting a genetic component, researchers led by Professor Anthony Campbell from Cardiff University reports in the current issue of the Postgraduate Medical Journal.
Evolutionary importance Humans are unusual among mammals as they keep producing the enzyme lactose after they are weaned onto solid food.
But Darwin did not explain the evolutionary advantage of this in either of his two books On The Origin of Species or The Descent of Man, the researchers say.
But now ....
Sounds like a product (or byproduct) of neoteny (the persistence of juvenile characteristics into adulthood). This can be produced by changes in the expression of relatively few genes, and can account for things like increased human brain size (S.J.Gould has written about it).
--
* PAUL K. BRANDON [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
* Psychology Department 507-389-6217 *
* 23 Armstrong Hall Minnesota State University, Mankato *
* http://www.mnsu.edu/dept/psych/welcome.html *
--- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
