Farmers Genetically Modified Corn 4,000 Years Ago

Ananova ^ | 11-13-2003

[blam]

Farmers genetically modified corn 4,000 years ago

Researchers have claimed that farmers in the US and Mexico changed corn genes through selective breeding more than 4,000 years ago.

The scientists say the modifications produced the large cobs and fat kernels that make corn one of humanity's most important foods.

In a study that compares the genes of corn cobs recovered in Mexico and the southwestern United States, researchers found that three key genetic variants were systematically enhanced, probably through selective cultivation, over thousands of years.

The technique was not as sophisticated as the methods used for modern genetically modified crops, but experts claim that the effect was the same: genetic traits were amplified or introduced to create plants with improved traits and greater yield.

"Civilisation has been built on genetically modified plants," said Nina Fedoroff of Pennsylvania State University.

The ancestral plant of corn, teosinte, was first domesticated some 6,000 to 9,000 years ago in the Balsas River Valley of southern Mexico, the researchers said in this Science magazine.

At first, teosinte was a grassy-like plant with many stems bearing small cobs with kernels sheathed in hard shells.

By cultivating plants with desirable characteristics, farmers caused teosinte to create an increasingly useful crop. The researchers said by 5,500 years ago the size of the kernels was larger. By 4,400 years ago, all of the gene variants found in modern corn were present in crops grown in Mexico.

The plant and its grain were so changed by the directed cultivation that it evolved into a form that could not grow in the wild and was dependent on farmers to survive from generation to generation, the study found.

Story filed: 12:00 Thursday 13th November 2003

[jennyp]

Hey, I got 4 varieties of irish potatoes growing in my garden right now. However, after tonight's low (32 degrees), I think it will be time to dig 'em up.

Speaking of potato varieties, do you know if there are any lower-carb/higher protein varieties of potato? The standard potato you get in the store (or in your french fries) is a total carb-bomb.

[JudyB1938]

Is there anyone who didn't already know this?

I always find "new discoveries" like this so amusing. A lot of this stuff, we were taught back in grade school over 50 years ago.

That's the problem with schools, they don't teach anything any more. That's why things have to be discovered over again. Stupid!

[captain_dave]

I don't doubt that these plants were modified. But, how? Science can't claim that people living 6000 - 10,000 years ago were ignorant stone age hunter gatherers living at the whim of weather and large beasts, yet claim, in the same breath, that they "domesticated" plants.

Why have no new plants become "domesticated" since?

The evidence just doesn't add up. Something major is missing here.

[blam]

"Why have no new plants become "domesticated" since?"

Just off the top of my head...Brocclli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage and collards all came from a wild cabbage plant in England.

Both my mom and dad came from farming families, each year at harvest time, they would select seeds from the best looking of the harvest and those seeds would be the next years crop.
That's how the ancients did it, each year for hundreds (probably thousands) of years they just kept selecting seeds each year from the most desireable. From year to year, the change was almost undiscernable but, in the long run, changed the corn plant into what we know today.

[aimhigh]

how is that not genetic engineering?

Again, show me natural cross breeding of animal and plant. Nature has limits, which GE violates, sometimes to the detrement of mankind. 35 died when GE was used to "enhance" bacteria that produced tryptophane several years ago. The result was a brand new chemical structure that killed 35 and injured over a 1,000.

[Alas Babylon!]

Well, potatoes have great nutritional value, if properly prepared. They are high in carbs, though, about 26g for the average potato. I find Yukon Gold, Yellow Finn, Russian Banana and Swedish Peanut to be the best value for nutrition (the last three are fingerling potatoes, and are smaller, so less carbs). All of these steam or boil well and have a yellowish flesh, waxy texture, and taste almost pre-buttered, so you don't need to add a lot of fixins to them. I tried growing a russet potato (can't remember the name) that is supposed to have a very high protien content but due to a very hot, dry Spring they all went to blight on me and I haven't tried that variety again (eyes were too expensive).

[Alamo-Girl]

Jeepers. Thanks for the heads up!

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

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[Straight Vermonter]

Why have no new plants become "domesticated" since?

Lots of plants have been "domesticated" in recent times. I can think of the strawberry off the top of my head. It used to be the tiny wild berry that you can still find in fields but has been bred to be much larger and sweeter by man. See Strawberry history.

[TEXOKIE]

"Researchers have claimed that farmers in the US and Mexico changed corn genes through selective breeding more than 4,000 years ago.
Anybody remember who was President of the United States 4,000 years ago? "



Ummmmmmmm musta been ALGORE!!! Yeah! THAT's it!! He invented the wheel too, along about that time!

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[Cobra Scott]

Transgenic mutation, just like that used in GM crops, occurs naturally. From bacteria to plant.

[Cobra Scott]

Marco Polo did not introduce noodles to Europe.

Ever read Cicero? Noodles were a mediterranian dish even then.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Not to mention chocolate, vanilla, and tomatoes (or tomatos or tomaaahtos).

Good thing the Europeans didn't arrive and destroy the Native American Culture until these were discovered.

[RightWhale]

There is a house in New Jersey where it is said a man ate a tomato for the first time and lived. It's one of those Civil War style houses with a brass placque about the event. The whole town turned out expecting him to die horribly. I don't like tomatoes unless they are tomato paste and don't look like a huge poisonous berry.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It should also be noted that the company making this version of l-Tryptophan changed its filtration procdures also. The incience of EMS was inversely proportional to the amount of activated charcoal filtration. As far as I have read, no tests were done to see if using non-modified bacteria produced problems when the filtration was reduced.

[Doctor Stochastic]

When you make eggplant, you should slice the eggplant into disks then salt both sides. The salt draws out the bitter taste. Wash off the salt after about half an hour or so then fry in good olive oil. This part of preparation seems to be skipped even on the Food Network. Failure produces very bitter eggplant.

Try fried eggplant and cream cheese sandwitches (I found these in Italy.)

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Luther Burbank was considered a genius for his development of hybrids. Now we can develop hybrids faster.

[RightWhale]

Thanks! Up to now the best use I knew for eggplant was cocktail coasters.

[Doctor Stochastic]

It really matters.