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Agriculture's Role in Accelerating Human Genome Evolution

New study reveals significant increase in genes for starch digestion over the last 12,000 years.

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Overview

  • Humans in Europe have increased genes for starch-digesting enzymes from an average of eight to over 11.
  • The rise in gene numbers correlates with the spread of agriculture and a high-carbohydrate diet.
  • Multiple copies of amylase genes offered a survival advantage by efficiently extracting energy from starch.
  • The study used advanced sequencing to uncover rapid gene evolution and its implications for human disease.
  • Similar genetic changes were observed in other agricultural populations worldwide, indicating a global trend.