Study Reveals Ancient Human Affinity for Carbohydrates Predates Agriculture

Research uncovers genetic evidence of early humans' ability to digest starches long before the rise of farming.

A recent study published in Science traces the human salivary amylase gene, AMY1, back 800,000 years, indicating an early adaptation to carbohydrate digestion.
The gene AMY1, responsible for breaking down starches into sugars, was found to have multiple copies in ancient human genomes, suggesting a natural preference for carbs.
Findings challenge the traditional view that early human diets were predominantly protein-based, highlighting carbohydrates as a significant energy source for brain development.
Genetic analysis of ancient and modern genomes shows that early humans, including Neanderthals and Denisovans, had multiple AMY1 copies, predating the agricultural revolution.
The study suggests that the AMY1 gene's duplication occurred randomly, with environmental pressures later favoring those with more copies as humans began consuming more starch-rich foods.