The toxic sugar tree: Mapping the evolutionary history of a cancerous sugar gene

(University of Nevada, Reno) The gene CMAH, that allows for the synthesis of a sugar called Neu5Gc, is missing from humans. This sugar is present in red meats, some fish and dairy products. When humans consume an animal with that gene, the body has an immune reaction to the foreign sugar, which can cause inflammation, arthritis, and cancer. University of Nevada, Reno researchers, have analyzed 322 animal genome sequences looking for animals with the presence of active CMAH genes.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news