Environmental selection during the last ice age on the mother-to-infant transmission of vitamin D and fatty acids through breast milk

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711788115
• Publication Date: 2018-04-23T19:10:50Z
• Authors: Leslea J. Hlusko; Joshua P. Carlson; George Chaplin; Scott A. Elias; John F. Hoffecker; Michaela Huffman; Nina G. Jablonski; Tesla A. Monson; Dennis H. O’Rourke; Marin A. Pilloud; G. Richard Scott
• Keywords: Beringia

Significance The frequency of the human-specific EDAR V370A isoform is highly elevated in North and East Asian populations. gene known to have several pleiotropic effects, among which are sweat gland density ductal branching mammary gland. former has led some geneticists argue that near-fixation this allele was caused by selection for modulation thermoregulatory sweating. We provide an alternative hypothesis, instead acted on allele’s effect increasing gland, thereby amplifying transfer critical nutrients infants via mother’s milk. This likely occurred during Last Glacial Maximum when a human population genetically isolated high-latitude environment Beringia.