Scientists in China retrieved kefir cheese from mummies dating back 3,500 years. The cheese was made from goat's milk and provides insights into ancient civilization.
Scientists retrieved ancient kefir cheese from Tarim Basin mummies dating back 3,500 years from the Xiaohe cemetery located in Xinjiang, Western China. By analyzing the DNA of Bronze Aged cheese, scientists are able to provide insight into how the Xiaohe people lived and their interactions with animals. Experts reconstructed the 'fermentation microbial community' confirming the cheese was made using lactic acid bacteria and yeasts.
This is an unprecedented study, allowing us to observe how a bacterium evolved over the past 3,000 years. Moreover, by examining dairy products, we’ve gained a clearer picture of ancient human life and their interactions with the world,' FU Qiaomei, a paleogeneticist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences , located in Beijing, said in a press release.
The study ais, 'by tracking the evolution of a species that was propagated and consumed by humans over thousands of years, we were able to explore how human activities may impact microbial evolution through human-microbe interactions.' The scientists found that 'making cheese through fermentation can extend the shelf life of dairy and alleviate the gastrointestinal symptoms caused by lactose intolerance.
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