Having a second helping of pasta? Your DNA might be to blame for your carb cravings! Researchers from the University of Buffalo analyzed the genes of 68 ancient humans, and found that hunter-gatherers contained four to eight copies of AMY1 genes. These genes help break down starches in the mouth. This suggests that even before humans farmed, we had adapted to eating starchy foods. “Individuals with higher AMY1 copy numbers were likely digesting starch more efficiently and having more offspring,” Omer Gokcumen said. Future research could study how these genes could impact modern humans. (UPI)
Phone Topic: What carb can you not resist?