Potato domestication linked to genetic evolution in Andean populations

A study published in Nature Communications suggests that the domestication of potatoes in the Andes approximately 10,000 years ago may have driven evolutionary changes in Indigenous Andean populations. Researchers found that these groups possess the highest counts of AMY1 gene copies globally, which directs the production of salivary amylase used to break down starch.

By examining genomic data from 3,723 individuals across 85 populations, scientists observed that Indigenous Andean groups typically have two to four additional AMY1 copies compared to other populations. This genetic trait is associated with a roughly 1.24% survival or reproductive advantage per generation, allowing for more efficient starch processing.

Potatoes, part of the Solanaceae family, were domesticated by indigenous communities in Peru and northwestern Bolivia. The long-term reliance on this staple crop has created a measurable link between traditional diets and human biological adaptation.