In humans the ability to digest milk lactose is conferred by a β-galactosidase enzyme called
lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH). While in some humans (approximately two-thirds of …

In the last three decades, genetic studies have played an increasingly important role in
exploring human history. They have helped to conclusively establish that anatomically …

As the ancestral homeland of our species, Africa contains elevated levels of genetic diversity
and substantial population structure. Importantly, African genomes are heterogeneous: They …

The genetic trait of lactase persistence (LP) is associated with at least five independent
functional single nucleotide variants in a regulatory region about 14 kb upstream of the …

Abstract The Sahel/Savannah belt harbors diverse populations with different demographic
histories and different subsistence patterns. However, populations from this large African …

Background Human population history in the Holocene was profoundly impacted by
changes in lifestyle following the invention and adoption of food-production practices. These …

Objectives Archeological evidence shows that first nomadic pastoralists came to the African
Sahel from northeastern Sahara, where milking is reported by~ 7.5 ka. A second wave of …

Lactase persistence (LP) is a genetically-determined trait that is prevalent in African,
European and Arab populations with a tradition of animal herding and milk consumption. To …

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been used for decades as a predominant tool in population
genetics and as a valuable addition to forensic genetic research, owing to its unique …

Abstract Background Today, African pastoralists are found mainly in the Sahel/Savannah
belt spanning 6,000 km from west to east, flanked by the Sahara to the north and tropical …