Histoire de l'utilisation des laitages et de la persistance du gène de la lactase

This chapter covers archaeological and biological studies that have been insightful in the understanding of dairying history and the evolution of lactase persistence in humans. More specifically, we report results from lipid residue analyses on archaeological pottery vessels, ancient and modern human DNA and explain the biology and genetics of lactase persistence. Available data suggests that domesticated animals were used for milk consumption by humans early in the Neolithic, while contemporaneous populations seem to have been mainly lactose intolerant. This contrasts with modern European populations, which show a generally high proportion of lactase persistence.