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So I was reading wikipedia, browsing through various genetics-related articles, when I stumbled across the article for Amylyse, an enzym that breaks down starch into sugars. Apparently humans (and a few other animals) secrete amylyse in their saliva as a result of the expression of a certain gene that was originally expressed only in the pancreas.
My question has to do with the number of copies of this gene. According to the article, populations that have historically consumed higher proportions of carbohydrates in their diet have more copies of this gene (upwards of six) than populations which have a smaller proportion of their diet as carbs (who have 2-3 copies).
How is having more copies of a certain gene beneficial? Does having more copies lead to better expression?
(As as a side note, I just learned about endogenous retroviruses and endogenous viral elements. It's amazing to think that we've evolved to use some of these viral genes)
My question has to do with the number of copies of this gene. According to the article, populations that have historically consumed higher proportions of carbohydrates in their diet have more copies of this gene (upwards of six) than populations which have a smaller proportion of their diet as carbs (who have 2-3 copies).
How is having more copies of a certain gene beneficial? Does having more copies lead to better expression?
(As as a side note, I just learned about endogenous retroviruses and endogenous viral elements. It's amazing to think that we've evolved to use some of these viral genes)