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The Making of the Fittest: Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture

Topic

  • Genetics
  • Gene Expression & Regulation
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Metabolism & Nutrition
  • Evolution
  • Natural Selection
  • Human Evolution

Resource Type

  • Videos
  • Short Films

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege

Duration

00:14:52
Used In
2 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
63 Users
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View in Spanish

Description

This film explores the genetics and evolution of lactase persistence in humans.

Babies can easily digest milk, the food especially provided for them by their mothers. Later in life, most of us lose this ability because we stop producing lactase, the enzyme that helps us digest the sugar in milk. But about one-third of adults worldwide continue to produce the enzyme, a phenomenon known as lactase persistence. This film explores the genetics behind lactase persistence and discusses research that traces the origin of this trait to less than 10,000 years ago. The origin of lactase persistence coincides with a cultural shift in human populations who began to use the milk of other mammals as food. Combining genetics, chemistry, and anthropology, this story provides a compelling example of the co-evolution of human gene regulation and human culture.

The “Abbreviated Film Guide” provides a short summary of the film, along with key concepts and connections to curriculum standards.

An audio descriptive version of the film is available via our media player.

Key Terms

adaptation, gene expression, lactase persistence, lactose, lactose intolerance, milk, pastoralist

Primary Literature

Callaway, Ewen. “Pottery shards put a date on Africa’s dairying.” Nature, 20 June 2012 (www.nature.com/news/pottery-shards-put-a-date-on-africa-s-dairying-1.10863). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature.2012.10863.

Hollox, Edward. “Evolutionary genetics: Genetics of lactase persistence – fresh lessons in the history of milk drinking.” European Journal of Human Genetics 13 (2005): 267-269.
 

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level (WCAG compliance)

PDF files partially meet criteria. Video files meet criteria. Spanish files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 03.08.11
Date Updated 06.10.21

NGSS (2013)

HS-LS1.A, HS-LS3.A, HS-LS3.B, HS-LS4.B, HS-LS4.C

AP Biology (2019)

EVO-1, EVO-3, IST-2, IST-4, SYI-3

IB Biology (2016)

2.5, 3.1, 4.1, 5.4, 6.1, D.2

AP Environmental Science (2020)

Topic(s): 2.6, 3.8, 5.3

Vision and Change (2009)

CC1, CC5

Materials

HD (M4V) 572 MB
HD (WMV) 461 MB
SD (M4V) 185 MB
SD (WMV) 118 MB
Transcript (PDF) 324 KB
Spanish Dub (Español) (MP4) 261 MB
Transcript - Español (PDF) 267 KB
Abbreviated Film Guide (PDF) 235 KB

Use This Resource With

Activity Resource
Activity for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Activity Resource
Lactase Persistence: Evidence for Selection
Activity Resource
Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction
Activity Resource
Pedigrees and the Inheritance of Lactose Intolerance
Activity Resource
Blood Glucose Data Analysis
Activity Resource
Milk: How Sweet Is It?

Educator Tips

Hear how educators are using BioInteractive content in their teaching.
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1-Minute Tips

Lactose Intolerance and Genetics

Robin Bulleri describes how she uses the "Got Lactase?" short film, along with the "Inheritance of Lactose Intolerance" activity, to show her students how lactase persistence arose and how pedigrees and DNA analysis reveal patterns of inheritance of lactase gene variants.
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Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Lactase

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Recent Adaptations in Humans
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Regulation of the Lactase Gene
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Interactive Assessment for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
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Data Points
Spread of a Lactase-Persistence Allele
Title screen of the film
Film Activities
Activity for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
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Case Studies
Lactase Persistence: Evidence for Selection
Image of lactase cleaving sugars
Animations
Lactose Digestion in Infants
Image of a glass of milk with a smiley face superimposed
Animations
Natural Selection for Lactose Tolerance
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Milk: How Sweet Is It?
Image from the activity
Lessons
Pedigrees and the Inheritance of Lactose Intolerance
Photo of a cat being given a bowl of milk
Lessons
Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction
Image from the activity
Lessons
Blood Glucose Data Analysis

Other Related Resources

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Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
Interactive Assessment for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Title screen of the film
Film Activities
Activity for Got Lactase? The Co-evolution of Genes and Culture
Photo of a cat being given a bowl of milk
Lessons
Lactose Intolerance: Fact or Fiction
Screen shot of the quiz
Interactive Videos
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Regulation of the Lactase Gene
Computer illustration of a fat cell
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PPAR-gamma Activation in the Fat Cell
Image from the interactive
Click & Learn
Recent Adaptations in Humans
Portion of the main image
Data Points
Spread of a Lactase-Persistence Allele

This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

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