Please if anyone could help me with a few suggestions about how to answer this question.

A mutation produces a change to produce the dominant gene for continued lactase production throughout adult life. This occurs very frequently and is present in almost 100% of people in northern Europe and populations orginating from northern Europe now living else where. In people originating in most parts of the world (as well as other mammals) the recessive gene for non-persistence of lactase is most common. The dominant gene is thought to be a fairly recent mutation, orginating perhaps 6000-10 000 years ago in people developing the skills of cattle herding and dairy farming.

Suggest how this gene may have increased in Northern European populations but not in other global areas? I would be grateful for some help really really stuck on how to answer this one.

This article may help you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lactose_intolerance#History_of_genetic_prevalence

Thank you

To answer this question, it is necessary to understand the concept of lactose intolerance and the genetic mutation that allows for continued lactase production. You can start by reading the article provided in the link, which provides the historical and genetic background on lactose intolerance.

Here is a suggested approach to answering the question:

1. Start by summarizing the information from the given article: In most parts of the world, the recessive gene for non-persistence of lactase, leading to lactose intolerance, is the most common. However, in Northern European populations and populations originating from Northern Europe, there is a dominant gene that allows for continued lactase production throughout adult life. This dominant gene is thought to be a recent mutation, originating around 6,000-10,000 years ago, possibly in response to the development of cattle herding and dairy farming skills.

2. Explain the possible reasons for the increase in the dominant lactase persistence gene in Northern European populations:
- Evolutionary advantage: The ability to digest lactose from milk would have provided a significant advantage to individuals in societies that practiced cattle herding and dairy farming. Access to a nutrient-rich food source like milk would have increased their chances of survival and reproduction.
- Natural selection: Over generations, individuals who carried the dominant lactase persistence gene would have had higher chances of survival and passing on their genes to offspring who also had the advantageous trait. This would have led to an increase in the prevalence of the dominant gene within the population.
- Cultural practices: The adoption of cattle herding and dairy farming as a way of life in Northern European populations would have provided ample opportunities for individuals who could tolerate lactose to thrive. This cultural shift may have further contributed to the increase in the dominant gene within the population.

3. Address why the same increase did not occur in other global areas:
- Absence of cultural practices: In regions where cattle herding and dairy farming were not traditionally practiced, there was no selective pressure for lactase persistence. Therefore, the dominant gene did not have the same evolutionary advantage in these populations, and the prevalence of the dominant gene remained low.
- Different dietary patterns: The prevalence of lactose intolerance in populations not adapted to consuming dairy products suggests that their dietary patterns did not include milk or dairy products historically. As a result, the lactase persistence gene did not undergo the same selective pressures as in Northern European populations.

Remember to cite the information and provide additional sources if needed.