BACKGROUND: The prevalence of the deficiency of enzyme Lactase/phlorizinhydrolase (LPH) varies widely between different countries, with a low of 1-3% in Scandinavia and closeto 100% in most of South-East Asia. Various carbohydrates are capable of enhancing LPH mRNA levels inthe small intestine, and that transcriptional control plays a major role in the carbohydrate-inducedalterations of LPH mRNA expression.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A generation of rats was randomized and assignedto two groups; those that were fed a high-carbohydrate diet and, those that were fed standard rodentmeal. The sixth generation of these animals was fed standard rodent meal. Transfection experiments usingCaco-2 cells were performed using sperm samples of the sixth generation of rats.
RESULTS: This studysuggests that the feeding with a high-carbohydrate diet during five generations of rats increases thecapacity of production of enzyme LPH, LPH mRNA levels and the transcription rate of the LPH gene in thesixth generation of these animals, and this fact happens independently of the diet that this generationof rats had. Transfection experiments show that this influence has had to take place necessarily withinthe hereditary component which the last generation of rats received from its family ancestors.
CONCLUSION:The feeding received by the ancestors of a generation of rats could influence within hereditary componentreceived by them.

Keywords: Evolution, natural selection, darwinism, Lactase, Lamarck, speciation