-From our research we found that the difference of climates and the different nutrients determined how the organisms in the area adapted as well determined their rate of lactose intolerance. This adaption has to do with two factors, Epigenetics and Natural Selection.
-Epigenetics is the study of the development and maintenance of an organism that is determined by a set of chemical reactions that switch parts of the genome off and on at strategic times and locations.
-Most of everyone is born with the enzyme lactase and is able to break down the nutrient lactose, mammals are coded genetically to live off of their mothers milk. Yet, many people over time become lactose intolerant. This change has to do with Epigenetics.
-How Epigenetics effects lactose intolerance
-In different cultures different necessary needs where mimicked (such as lactose tolerance) so instead of the enzyme lactase being simply “switched off” after infancy, it stays on and keeps producing lactase. The opposite action is taken in environments that do not lack in plant based nutrients.
-How natural selection effects lactose intolerance
-Natural selection is the gradual, non-random process by which biological traits become either more or less common in a area. This is also exemplified in the evolution of lactose intolerance. Over time, the organisms in specific areas such as Finland found it necessary to survive in the winter months if they could consume animal based nutrients such as milk due to the cold weather. The organisms that could not break down the nutrient either died off or did not reproduce due to mal nutrition, so this lactose intolerant genetic
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