Gene mutation evolved to cope with modern high-sugar diets

[ChrisSmolinski]

A common gene mutation helps people cope with modern diets by keeping blood sugar low, but close to half of people still have an older variant that may be better suited to prehistoric diets, finds a new study.

The gene variant became more common in humans after cooking and farming became widespread, and might now help people avoid diabetes, according to the findings published in eLife.

"People with the older variant may need to be more careful of their carb intake, but more research is needed to understand how the genetic variant we found can impact our physiology," added Professor Brodsky.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/06/190604084857.htm