Posted on 12/25/2014 4:40:58 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Using the tools of paleogenetics, scientists have recently traced the evolutionary history of an enzyme that helps us metabolize ethanol, the principal type of alcohol found in adult beverages. Scientists believe early human ancestors evolved their ethanol-digesting ability about 10 million years ago to fortify their diet as they shifted from a tree-based lifestyle to a more ground-based lifestyle...
To help narrow that range, researchers studied the genetic evolution of alcohol-metabolizing enzyme ADH4, which has been present in primates, in one form or another, for at least 70 million years. Using genetic sequences from 28 different mammals, including 17 primates, the researchers were able to work backward and create a sort of family tree for ADH4.
To see how the past versions would have worked, researchers then synthesized nine different ADH4 proteins and tested their ethanol-busting properties.
Nearly all of the ADH4 enzymes from our primate ancestors were inactive -- meaning they didn't break down ethanol. However, about 10 million years ago, when orangutans and human ancestors diverged, things changed dramatically. A single amino acid alteration made ADH4 able to metabolize ethanol 40 times better than before.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.discovermagazine.com ...
Acrually, it isn’t.
Many scientists were booted for discussions of this nature.
I pop in, make sure lurkers know we have people who know science, then pop out.
As I am doing now.
I doubt it, but perhaps you can cite known specifics & statistics?
>>I doubt it, but perhaps you can cite known specifics & statistics?<<
ME (I was allowed back after 2 years) and about 30 others. We started Darwin Central but sadly that had a massive server collapse and has not returned.
I warn you to be very, very careful. And do NOT post about TToE on the Religion Forum!
A lot of the Crevo war threads have been pulled, but most of the people who were banned let themselves get baited into joining a flame war.
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