Genetic Research Into Prgression of the Human Diet

Researchers of the school of Human Evolution at the Univeristy of Arizona are making progress in understanding the unique development of the Human species and its diet, research that may carve the way to developing cures and treatments to various genetic and nongenetic diseases. They targeted the area of starch-consumption in the human diet because it is "prominent in both agriculturalists and hunter-gatherers", says Anne Stone, associate professor of the school and one of research leaders. In particular, the amylase gene (AMY1) copy variation was studied for it's links to starch hydrolysis and the frequency of its existance in populations with high starch or low starch diets.

The main finding of the investigation was that individuals who eat more strach were found to have more AMY1 copies that individuals with less starch in thier diet. The investigation was extended to other mammals with a similiar genetic code to humans, in order to recieve a "better understanding of this process in humans". Even in chimpanzees and bonobos (small african monkey) scientists noted that a greater amount of AMY1 copies could be found in animals with high starch diets. Anne Stone tells that "the average human has about three times more AMY1 copies than chimpanzees, which eat mostly fruit and far less starch than humans. And bonobos may not have any This human-specific increase may have occurred with a dietary shift early in hominin evolutionary history."

As starch is a major part of the average human's diet, digestion of the polysaccaride is highly important for energy absorbtion and survival. Starch has also be found to accelorate the rate of recovery from diarrohea, it is therefore believed that this research may also give "insight into why certain populations may weather diarrheal diseases better than others". It is hoped that further study into such genetic variation within and between species will one day assist in handling of genetic diseases, for as George "P.J." Perry (graduate student and researcher in the study of AMY1 copy variations) said "We talk about genetic diseases and cures, but first you have to find out what genetic differences are there so you can study what they're involved with and what they mean from a morphological variation and disease standpoint."

Amylase Protein

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