Is Lactose Tloerancy Genetic?

A single genetic mutation allows people to tolerate milk after they leave babyhood, and is virtually the same in people of Asian, European and African descent, researchers reported Sunday. Finding the tiny change in the genetic code should allow scientists an easy test for lactose intolerance, a painful digestive condition, and also offers insights into how some groups of people evolved a milk-drinking culture, the team of U.S. and Finnish researchers said. People who have lactose intolerance - most of the people in the world - cannot digest large amounts of lactose, the main sugar found in dairy products. If they eat milk, cheese or other dairy products they develop nausea, cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. Between 30 million and 50 million North Americans are lactose intolerant - 75 per cent of African-Americans and 90 per cent of Asian-Americans. It affects about 5 per cent of Northern Europeans and close to 100 per cent of Southeast Asians, said the researchers, who reported their findings in the journal Nature Genetics. Lactose intolerance was known to be genetic, caused by a recessive gene, meaning that a person has to inherit a "faulty" copy from each parent to be lactose intolerant. "This is the first time this mutation, the DNA change, is actually identified," said Dr. Leena Peltonen, a geneticist at the University of California Los Angeles, who led the study. "This paves the way to DNA testing. The full article is on the link below; http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-ng.asp?id=42796-scientists-identify-lactose

Yes lactose intolerance is genetic. It is a recessive trait meaning that you can be a carrier, yet not effected by the disorder. If two carriers have a child, there is a 25% chance that child will have the disease. If someone who is lactose intolerant, such as yourself, has a child with someone who is a carrier there is a 50% chance the child will be lactose intolerant. If someone who is lactose intolerant has a child with someone who is not a carrier, there is no chance the child will have the disease but 100% chance the child will be a carrier. I know that is a lot to swallow, but I hope it helps.

I don't know if it genetic or not, I am though, if I drink milk it makes me so sick!! And both of my kids had to be on soy formula when they were infants. But now they drink milk and are fine. I don't think anyone else in my family is intolerant though, just me =)

I think 2/3 of all people are lactose intolerant. There are whole cultures who cannot digest milk. And really we're not meant to drink the milk of another species. And what other species drinks milk far into adulthood? Yes I think a person can pass it on, but fear not there's always soy.