The Claim
Lactase persistence is not associated with stature in modern human populations, whereas such an association existed in ancient human populations, demonstrating that gene-environment interactions influencing stature have changed over evolutionary time.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
In ancient human populations, people with the genetic ability to digest milk as adults tended to be taller, but this link between milk digestion and height does not exist in modern humans.
See the scientific wording
The association between lactase persistence and stature in ancient populations does not exist in modern humans, indicating that gene-environment interactions can change over evolutionary time.
People who can digest milk as adults absorb more calories and nutrients from it, which helps their bones grow longer during childhood, making them taller. This only happened in the past when dairy was a major food source and other nutrition was limited.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Effects of ancestry, agriculture, and lactase persistence on the stature of prehistoric Europeans
Long ago, people with a gene that let them digest milk were often taller, but today that same gene doesn’t make people taller. This shows how the way genes affect our bodies can change over time as our environment changes.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.