meat eatin ain't natural...natch

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Liver studies hint vegies suit humans

31 August 2006

 

Scientists studying kidney-stone diseases have stumbled across

evidence that humans may be genetically more suited to vegetarianism

than meat eating.

 

The discovery was made when the placement of an enzyme known as AGT,

which is linked to the rare kidney-stone disease PH1, was found in one

area of the liver in herbivores and another in carnivores, Professor

Chris Danpure, of University College London, said yesterday.

 

Evolutionary science indicated that about 10 million years ago the

distribution of the enzyme in human ancestors appeared to change from

favouring a omnivorous diet to plant eating.

 

Humans began eating meat only in the past 100,000 years, a habit which

has increased dramatically in recent times.

 

" It would appear that the diet we have now is incompatible with the

distribution of this enzyme, which was designed for a herbivore diet,

not meat eating, " he said.

 

The human placement of the enzyme was the same as in rabbits, sheep

and horses.

 

" One of the consequences of this could be the high frequency of kidney

stones in humans, especially in western societies. "

 

Danpure, who is a guest speaker at the annual Queenstown Molecular

Biology Meeting this week, said if the link was proven it had

potential for identifying people susceptible to kidney-stone diseases.

 

More than 300 leading scientists from New Zealand and overseas are

attending the conference this week, which was opened by Research,

Science and Technology Minister Steve Maharey on Tuesday night.

 

Molecular biology was helping transform the New Zealand economy and a

recent survey found that biotechnology income to New Zealand companies

in 2005 was $855 million, he told delegates.

 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3781716a7144,00.html

 

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