### ch01p39 domestication led to some dogs having omnivorous diets > most modern dogs have multiple copies of the amylase gene, which encodes the enzyme for digesting starch. The more copies a dog has, the more amylase it produces in the pancreas, making it easier for them to eat midden and table scraps. But the number of copies of the gene varies among modern dogs based on breed, probably due to their ancestor’s dietary habits. For example, Chinese dogs 9,000 years ago ate diets of up to 90% millet. Dogs with high copy numbers map neatly on to agrarian areas of the globe. ## ch02 Wheat - [[Tamed by Alice Roberts#ch01p39 domestication led to some dogs having omnivorous diets|View in Vault]]