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Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Quantification of Information Encoded by Gene Expression Levels During Lifespan Modulation Under Broad-range Dietary Restriction in C. elegans
Published on: August 16, 2017
Dietary-Driven Gene Expansion
1Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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.
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