Gene Duplication Shaped Human Diet Evolution

Recent research has uncovered that the evolution of the salivary amylase gene (AMY1), which aids in starch digestion, occurred over 800,000 years ago, well before the advent of agriculture. This genetic adaptation allowed early humans, including ancestors like Neanderthals and Denisovans, to efficiently digest carbohydrate-rich foods such as tubers and grains. Studies analyzing ancient human genomes found that pre-agricultural hunter-gatherers already had multiple copies of the AMY1 gene, indicating an early adaptation to starchy diets. This gene duplication likely played a crucial role in human dietary evolution, allowing for greater energy consumption and possibly contributing to brain development. These findings challenge the traditional view of ancient humans as primarily meat-eaters and suggest a long-standing human affinity for carbohydrates. The research, conducted by scientists from the University of Buffalo and Jackson Laboratory, was published in the journal Science.