G. Subramaniam,
The albino mutation is very recent while Europe has maintained a population for ~40K years (versus 85K in S Asia)
The question to ask is: Why did such a mutation not become established earlier if there were selective pressures.
Because, like the Eskimo-Inuits, the paleo-European diet was rich in Vitamin D acquired through fish fare, and therefore no pressure to select away darkened skin (darkened skin prevents endogenous Vitamin D formation in the skin via sunlight)
When the marine source of Vitamin D was lost because of Indic Neolithic (with no fish fare), the albino mutation became selective and became established (this mutation was most likely present in the originating populations in Kashmir/Punjab/Afghanistan)
Let us say the albino mutation is off-dated by 4 or 5 millenia in either direction.. It does not matter as long as it was not present since the outset of AMH presence in Europe, and a few ten millenia onwards..
The case of Inuits is the exception which proves the rule.
The albino mutation is very recent while Europe has maintained a population for ~40K years (versus 85K in S Asia)
The question to ask is: Why did such a mutation not become established earlier if there were selective pressures.
Because, like the Eskimo-Inuits, the paleo-European diet was rich in Vitamin D acquired through fish fare, and therefore no pressure to select away darkened skin (darkened skin prevents endogenous Vitamin D formation in the skin via sunlight)
When the marine source of Vitamin D was lost because of Indic Neolithic (with no fish fare), the albino mutation became selective and became established (this mutation was most likely present in the originating populations in Kashmir/Punjab/Afghanistan)
Let us say the albino mutation is off-dated by 4 or 5 millenia in either direction.. It does not matter as long as it was not present since the outset of AMH presence in Europe, and a few ten millenia onwards..
The case of Inuits is the exception which proves the rule.