1148-High Amylase Gene Copy Number in Indigenous Andeans

Paper Talk · Jun 18, 2026 · 17m

This study identifies a rapid genetic adaptation in Indigenous Peruvian Andean populations linked to starch digestion. Researchers discovered that these populations possess the highest salivary amylase (AMY1) gene copy numbers globally, a trait that correlates with the historical domestication of potatoes approximately 10,000 years ago. By comparing the genomes of over 3,700 individuals, the authors found evidence of a positive selective sweep on a specific haplotype that likely rose in frequency as an evolutionary response to a high-carbohydrate diet. The study utilizes ultra-long-read…