Tag: African genetics

Genetic studies show that lactase persistence, the ability to digest milk into adulthood, varies significantly across African populations. The simple question "do Africans have lactose tolerance?" reveals a complex story shaped by millennia of evolution, different historical diets, and multiple, independent genetic mutations. The answer is not a single yes or no, but a fascinating exploration into human adaptation.

Over 90% of adults in East Asian populations, including Chinese and Japanese, are estimated to have a reduced ability to digest lactose after infancy, marking this ethnicity as having one of the highest rates of lactose intolerance globally. The phenomenon is tied directly to genetic variations across different populations.