This is actually an amazing idea
Always thought it’s a play on machine learning, but I’m most probably wrong.
Not my field, but I don’t think it’s even possible to really pinpoint “the” most recent evolutionary step, not to mention being able to define “step” in an incredibly slow variable with multiple layers of continuity (individual, population, and whole species levels).
But I would say that it is very recent for sure, as lactase persistence is a trait that really only started (above “noise” level stochastic mutations in the population) when we started using dairy some 6000 years ago because of selection pressure.
What field are you in? In the life sciences, there’s normally a fee to publish closed-access and a higher one for open-access. My last paper was open access and costed about 3500, compared to 1500 pay walled.