Re: evolution and diet (was: FITNESS: Diet and Exercise)

From: Damien Sullivan (phoenix@ugcs.caltech.edu)
Date: Tue Apr 15 2003 - 17:55:43 MDT

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    > Eur J Nutr 2000 Apr;39(2):67-70 (ISSN: 1436-6207)
    > Eaton SB; Eaton SB

    > contemporary humans were selected. Our genome can have changed little since
    > the beginnings of agriculture, so, genetically, humans remain Stone

    See, it's that "can have changed little" which I frankly question. It's been
    500 generations. The Grants in the Galapagos have seen genetic shifts in 20
    generations. If a diet of grains had been that bad for us, I think that'd be
    a corresponding strong selection pressure to get better at eating grains.
    Lactose tolerance among Caucasians is one minor example of adapting to the
    local diet. And is it speculated that American Indians and aborigines have
    less tolerance for alcohol since they're new to it. (They have a weakness to
    it, but whether that's cultural or metabolic I don't know.) And I think the
    Indians in the Andes have various height adaptations -- although again, I
    don't know that any of that is genetic as opposed to having grown up there.
    But I throw out the questions.

    -xx- Damien X-)



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