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Variation in pancreatic amylase gene copy number among Eurasian badgers (Carnivora, Mustelidae,
 Meles
 ) and its relationship to diet

Occurrence of copy number variation (CNV) of gene loci is important in the adaptation of species and populations to their environments. High copy numbers of mammalian genes encoding the digestive enzyme amylase, which plays a role in starch digestion, have been associated with adaptation to high-starch foods. Here, we investigated CNV in the pancreatic amylase gene (AMY2) in Eurasian badgers (Meles species) and related taxa using real-time quantitative PCR. We found that Meles anakuma and M. meles, as well as the other mustelids Mustela sibirica, Martes melampus and Martes zibellina, had only one copy of the AMY2 locus, whereas in Meles leucurus the copy number varied between one and four. The AMY2 copy number also varied significantly among M. leucurus populations. This suggests that M. leucurus is better adapted to a diet rich in starch and/or glycogen than its congeners. As Meles spp. are basically omnivorous but favor a carnivoran diet, for example, earthworms and amphibians, we speculate that the CNV is related to the dearth of animal food in the range of M. leucurus, which enforces a more vegetal diet. This in turn would favor more efficient digestion of dietary starch, which could be achieved by increasing the copy number of AMY2 .