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Changes in Ancient DNA Led to Human Craving for Carbohydrates
Genes passed down from the incredibly distant past play a key role in the ability of human beings to break down and process carbohydrates. But archaic human species didn’t all possess this ability, and that is why genetic scientists have long been curious about the changes in ancient DNA that helped us develop the capacity to digest these energy-producing starches.
Now, a new study from the University of Buffalo and the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine has revealed some fascinating information that sheds light on this development, relating to events that happened more than 800,000 years ago. It was at this time that a gene essential for producing starch-digesting saliva was duplicated for the first time, within the genome of an archaic human ancestor. This was a critically important first step on the pathway of genetic change that turned us into the carbohydrate-loving creatures that we are today.
A Revolution in Starch Break Down
Modern humans carry multiple copies of this gene, which is known as the salivary amylase gene (AMY1). Without its presence, we wouldn’t be able to break down complex carbohydrates at the point where we begin chewing. This is a vital and indispensable step that allows us to metabolize foods loaded with starches, including staples of the human diet like rice, pasta, and bread.
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