Figures & data
Figure 1. Potential role for TP53 polymorphisms in human evolution. Proline at amino acid 72 (P72) of p53 is the ancestral variant and this form is found exclusively in primates. During the emergence of prehistoric humans, the arginine 72 form (R72) evolved from P72 and may have provided increased fat accumulation, which not only improved survival but also offered benefits such as enhanced cold tolerance and fertility. These benefits are diminished in the modern era due to industrialization and abundance of food sources, resulting in increased susceptibility to metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
