How farming changed the human DNA
Modern European genes might favor a vegetarian diet, scientists form Cornell University say as they tracked shifts in the DNA that occurred some 10,000 years ago, with the beginning of farming.
A Cornell study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution, shows how after the introduction of farming, some 10,000 years ago, the shift in the diet of Europeans has led to genetic adaptations.
Before the Neolithic revolution, the European population was composed of hunter-gatherers with an animal-based diets and some seafood. But with the introduction of farming, the diets of Europeans changed into plant-heavy ones.
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The Cornell study is the first to separate and compare the adaptations that occurred before and after the Neolithic revolution. The research shows that the dietary changes are also reflected in the genes of Europeans. With data collected form other 25 studied that looked at ancient DNA, dating back as far as 30,000 years ago, and information about contemporary DNA, the analysis reveals the role that diet has in our evolution.
“The study shows what a striking role diet has played in the evolution of human populations,” said Alon Keinan, associate professor of computational and population genomics and the paper’s senior author.
The study found that adaptations occurred in an important genomic region that includes three fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes. Different versions of the same FADS1 gene, called alleles, corresponded to the types of diets that were adopted.
“Changing diets instantaneously switched which alleles are advantageous, a result of marked natural selection for the level that a crucial gene is expressed,” Keinan said.
Practically, the mainly vegetarian diet of southern Europeans led to an increased frequency of an allele that encodes cells to produce enzymes which helps metabolize plants. The FADS1 gene found in these vegetarian farmers produces enzymes that play a vital role in the biosynthesis of omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Vegetarians require FADS1 enzymes to biosynthesize omega-3 and omega-6 from short-chain fatty acids found in plants, in seeds and roots.
The study has implications especially for nutritionists and scientists believe that other similar studies could lead to tailor each person’s diet to her or his genome to improve health and prevent disease.
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