Dietary-Driven Gene Expansion

Abstract

Gene duplication has been shown to drive molecular evolution, with dietary pressures expanding detoxification genes across species. In humans, CYP2D6 gene duplications enhance alkaloid and drug metabolism, reflecting ancient dietary adaptations. Similarly, tobacco-feeding aphids amplify CYP6CY3 for nicotine and insecticide resistance, and as recently shown, woodrats expand several ADME genes for detoxifying creosote-rich diets. These examples of dietary-driven gene expansion (DGE) highlight diet's role in shaping genomic evolution, impacting drug responses and pesticide resistance.