[allmendream]

Actually in almost all mammals there is a gene that turns off the lactase gene that makes the lactase enzyme to digest lactose the sugar in milk. There is a common allele that is a mutation of this inactivating gene, such that lactase is constitutively expressed throughout life. This allele is most common in Northern European populations, who have apparently ‘evolved’ to drink milk.

If you adopt an African or Asian child and insist on feeding it milk past infancy you will notice a large amount of intestinal distress, an no amount of ‘inculturation’ into our milk drinking culture is going to inactivate his gene that inactivates the lactase gene.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Of the opinion that gingersnap is onto something. Might the gene not deactivate if it is still needed, and only deactivates after an extended amount of time without drinking/eating dairy? Just a question.

[Skywalk]

Hmm.

Well, that’s not what I had read.

Why the hell did I make such a rigid assertion?! LOL Even when I was typing it, I felt like I should have couched my assertion a bit better.

In any case, while there is apparently some interesting reactions to alcohol in some Asians, as far as I know, the enzyme is produced so long as you steadily supply milk to the growing child.

But maybe I’m wrong. I did read an older book, Food in History, and then some stuff on the net.