New
#31
Asians/Native Americans don't have an enzyme to digest alcohol?
Is this true? If so, why?
The enzyme in question is alcohol dehydrogenase (Alcohol dehydrogenase - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia).
I'm not a geneticist, but since some of these cultures traditionally had no need for these enzymes, as evolution occurred they were never 'switched on' so to speak.
A similar occurrence can be observed with cultures that are traditionally used to dairy products (cheese, milk etc) vs cultures where dairy product producing animals aren't the norm. (Cows, goats et al)
ie There was once a study done of French cholesterol levels. Despite a traditionally very high cholesterol intake of dairy products, their cholesterol levels were on average lower than other contemporary non-traditional dairy consumers. Evolution has not only allowed a higher lactose tolerance, but a natural resistance to it's adverse affects.
The same can also be applied to skin colour pigmentation. Peoples from traditionally warm, sunny climates have a darker pigmentation as opposed to peoples who came from colder and less sunny climates. ie Africa vs Europe
Disease resistance is another. Native Americans/Aboriginals were hit very hard by introduced foreign diseases that traditionally did not occur in their isolated sphere of existence.
The list is quite large really. Evolution is a continual work in progress of adaptation.
(Theoretical Tangent Time)
There is currently no 'supreme' race. White supremacy, Black supremacy, Asian supremacy etc - it's all BS.
If there is ever to be a 'supreme' race, it will will be the humans that are the culmination of inter-racial human breeding over the continuing thousands of years that take the 'strongest' facets from each 'race' while discarding the 'weakest' genetic traits along the way.
Superior intellect, physical ability, disease resistance, environmental tolerance and so and so forth garnered from continual inter-racial breeding is the key to an ultimately stronger species. Segregated inter-breeding amongst ones own kind is actually detrimental to the well being of homosapiens in the long run.
Think in-breeding on a world wide scale. We've seen the flaws that occurs from in-breeding amongst a small sub-set of genetic material. "Kissing cousins" that pass inherent weakness and flaws to their offspring. Add non related genetics to the mix and the result is an improvement. Extrapolate and add further genetic improvements and the flaws start to wane as the addition of improved genetic material creates a healthier and hardier human.
Fast forward a few thousand years of continued genetic mixing and the best traits derived from each 'race' manifest themselves as a vastly superior homosapien vs continued segregated inter-bred genetics.
I know it's a pretty roughly delivered outline, but it's just a post on forum after all and not a dissertation
Yup that's why. Tap water usually tastes bad because of added chlorine and/or natural sulfur dioxide. Boiling forces these gases out of the water and so it tastes better afterwards. Agitation also works, so you could use a blender and get the same effect.
As for distilling, it is a waste of time unless you add malted grain, sugar and yeast. Allow it to ferment and then distill this liquid at least twice. The yields usige brea (water of life) which is pronounced whiskey bray ah. 😉
Good song!
A Land Down Under - Men at Work - YouTube