rs4988235 LCT/MCM6
Lactase persistent. Can digest lactose into adulthood. Common in Northern European populations.
What is rs4988235?
rs4988235 is a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the LCT/MCM6 gene (Lactase / MCM6 (lactase persistence locus)). Each person carries two copies, one from each parent, so a result is reported as a pair of letters such as TT. The table below describes what studies associate with each genotype; the association is statistical, across populations, and is not a diagnosis.
What does each rs4988235 genotype mean?
| Genotype | Association | What the evidence says | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| TT | typical / lower | Lactase persistent. Can digest lactose into adulthood. Common in Northern European populations. | 92% |
| CT / TC | typical / lower | Likely lactose tolerant. One copy of persistence allele is usually sufficient. | 88% |
| CC | typical / lower | Likely lactose intolerant. Lactase production decreases after childhood. Common in East Asian and African populations. | 90% |
How common is the T allele of rs4988235?
Minor-allele frequency by population (gnomAD / 1000 Genomes):
| European | 76.0% |
|---|---|
| East Asian | 1.0% |
| African | 8.0% |
| South Asian | 30.0% |
| Admixed American | 40.0% |
| Global | 32.0% |
Is rs4988235 on 23andMe and AncestryDNA chips?
Yes — it is genotyped directly on 23andMe V3, 23andMe V4, 23andMe V5, AncestryDNA V1, AncestryDNA V2. Orviva reads it from a raw-data export without imputation.
Sources
Upload your 23andMe, AncestryDNA or WeGene raw file → · Ask G2: “What is my genotype at rs4988235 and what does it mean for me?”
Genetic associations describe risk across populations, not a diagnosis for any one person. Most variants shift risk modestly and act alongside lifestyle, environment and other genes. Consumer DNA chips do not read every position and can be wrong at any single one. For general education only; talk to a clinician or genetic counsellor before acting on anything here, and never change a prescribed medicine without your prescriber.