[afraidfortherepublic]

There seems to be a problem with the Smithsonian site, so I'll post more of the article:

Watermelons had made their way to gardens in southern Europe by around 1600, writes Edwards, but they weren't domesticated by any means. For one thing, they were smaller, as most wild fruits are. They were also lighter than modern-day watermelons — the fleshy fruit surrounding the seeds is actually watermelon placenta, and it contained lower levels of lycopene, the protein that gives the fruit its red color.

Over time, humans have selectively bred watermelons to grow larger and produce higher levels of lycopene, brightening their insides in the process.

Modern watermelons

[ifinnegan]

Thanks.

I am pretty sure you can post the entire article.

We own the Smithsonian Institute.

[curmudgeonII]

lycopene, the protein that gives the fruit its red color.

I never knew that lycopene was a protein.

[JimRed]

Over time, humans have selectively bred watermelons to grow larger and produce higher levels of lycopene, brightening their insides in the process.

Genetic modification of organisms, by selective breeding...We're all gonna DIE!