The ideal training for future researchers in Europe, draws together leading research teams in world, state-of-the-art methods and a clearly focused, important and emotive question with widespread repercussions and integrates them using sophisticated tools and training devices; welcome to the training network, LeCHE. This large (15 researcher, 24 participant) Europen training network explores the origin and impact of dairying Europe. The participating researchers will drawn on the latest genetic studies of modern humans and domestic animals to identify markers of specific traits, but will also travel back in time and search for these in ancient remains. The trait of Lactase Persistence is under extreme positive selection in humans, but ancient DNA analyses reveals that it is absent in the first Neolithic farmers. Drinking raw milk has been very good for you for over 7,000 years!

Modern phylogeographic patterning suggests that a high degree of co-evolution of humans and domesticates. We will use sophisticated chemical and isotopic geochemical analyses of artefacts and bones, combined with traditional archaeology to obtain direct evidence of milk consumption and explore husbandry practices. All this data will be integrated into a large database. Mathematical modelling of gene flow and selection in Neolithic populations, constrained by archaeological data, will be used to develop hypotheses which can be tested against modern distribution of genetic diversity and ancient remains. Each student will have their own research project, but they will be encouraged to think and work as a team, by network activities, including a sophisticated set of Web 2.0 tools for communication, summer schools and their co-authorship of a book, the latter to teach them writing, editing and team-working skills.