What are some examples of recent, beneficial mutations in humans?
1 Answer
May 31, 2016
Lactose tolerance and ability to thrive in low oxygen environments.
Explanation:
Some time in the last few thousand years or so, human adults retained the ability to digest milk. Usually this ability is restricted to young mammals and they gradually lose this ability as they become adults. But this evolutionary development does not apply to all humans and some people are lactose intolerant.
Tibetans have also adapted to very low oxygen levels (around 15% compared to 21%) in the very high Tibetan Plateau region. This is one reason why they make excellent guides (called sherpas) for climbers.
