Lactose Tolerance in East Africa Points to Recent Evolution

[Cumulonimbus]

"Genetic evidence shows that the (genetic) mutations conferred an enormous selective advantage on their owners, enabling them to leave almost 10 times as many descendants as people without such mutations. The mutations have created “one of the strongest genetic signatures of natural selection yet reported in humans,” the researchers write.

The survival advantage was so powerful perhaps because those with the mutations not only gained extra energy from lactose but also, in drought conditions, would have benefited from the water in milk. People who were lactose intolerant could have risked losing water from diarrhea, Dr. Tishkoff said."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/11/sc...mp;oref=slogin


Is this as big of a deal as it seems? Or is it just another pointless blow against the mostly impenetrable armor of faith? I'm intrigued by what stance the Christian non-IDrs on this forum take about this...