New research offers insight into the evolutionary history of amylase genes, which are key to our ability to eat and digest starchy food. A study found that human ancestors started carrying multiple ...

Two new studies found that ancient human ancestors carried a surprising diversity of genes for amylase, an enzyme that breaks down starch. By Carl Zimmer As soon as you put starch in your mouth — ...

This is a preview. Log in through your library . Abstract A predictable divergence in gene frequency of the amylase variants Amy1 and Amy4,6, which differ in their enzymatic activities, was recorded ...