> Everywhere that agriculture and civilization went, lactose tolerance came along. Odd that they don't mention physical displacement: invasion, dispossession,

> Everywhere that agriculture and civilization went, lactose tolerance came along. Odd that they don't mention physical displacement: invasion, dispossession, death. The gene would likely have coincided with other developments of civilization, such as weapon technology, greater numbers, greater cooperation, specialised soldiers etc. Maybe there's evidence against it, but odd it's not addressed, with a puzzlingly high "selection differential". Another factor might have been sexual selection, if the new folk were healthier looking etc. Note they are talking specifically about the West - agriculture and civilization spread throughout the East without this gene.