2 plants randomly mated up to 1 million years ago to give rise to one of the world's most popular drinks [coffee]

Live Science ^ | April 30, 2024 | Richard Pallardy

[SunkenCiv]

...Using population genomic modeling methods, the researchers determined that C. arabica evolved as a result of natural hybridization between two other species of coffee: C. eugenioides and C. canephora. The hybridization resulted in a polyploid genome, meaning each offspring contains two sets of chromosomes from each parent. This may have given C. arabica a survival advantage that enabled it to thrive and adapt...

The researchers acknowledge that there is a margin of error. Earlier estimates of the time of hybridization date it as recently as 10,000 years ago.

"We had to input an estimated mutation rate, and a generation time (seed to seed time). Together, these assumptions allow us to convert to calendar years. But these estimates are of course fraught with error ranges given the usual uncertainty on mutation rates and generation times," Albert said. Still, he thinks their estimate is reasonably accurate. The researchers used genetic information from 41 samples of C. arabica from various locations, including an 18th-century specimen...

In 1927, C. arabica naturally crossed back to one of its parent species, C. canephora, on the island of Timor. This event created a more rust-resistant variety of coffee, but the quality of the beans has been deemed inferior to those produced by C. arabica or Robusta — another name for C. canephora.

[AppyPappy]

Coffee-flavored hot water.

[Tudorfly]

Nah, my post is factual. It contains no assumptions or modeling.

[SunkenCiv]

It’s you, speaking ex cathedra. All assumptions. All modeling.

[Tudorfly]

Interesting perspective. Please explain your claim.

[moovova]

"Interesting perspective. Please explain your claim."

Not my perspective or my claim...just simple research. SunkenCiv was nice enough to point this beverage out to me earlier in the thread. Read the can...

"Jolt Cola was a carbonated soft drink produced by The Jolt Company, Inc. (later known as Wet Planet Beverages). The cola drink was created in 1985 by C. J. Rapp as a highly caffeinated beverage.[1] It was targeted towards students and young professionals, stressing its use as a stimulant in a similar manner as energy drinks. Its slogan reads "All the sugar and twice the caffeine!""