Agriculture's Role in Accelerating Human Genome Evolution

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

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.