Posted on 10/04/2005 2:00:39 PM PDT by Our_Man_In_Gough_Island
US scientists have found that all modern varieties of potatoes can be traced back to a single source - a spud grown in Peru over 7,000 years ago. It had been believed potatoes had a much wider region of origin, stretching from Peru to northern Argentina.
The team, led by Dr David Spooner of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, analysed the DNA of about 360 potatoes, both wild and cultivated.
Some 300 million tonnes of potatoes are produced around the world every year.
The study was sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture.
Dr Spooner, a professor of horticulture, said archaeological finds had shown potatoes were being grown in Peru by farmers "more than 7,000 years ago".
"In contrast to all prior hypotheses of multiple origins of the cultivated potato, we have identified a single origin from a broad area of southern Peru," said the scientist, who spends two months a year collecting wild potatoes on treks in South America's mountainous regions.
Potatoes were brought back to Spain by the conquistadors around 1570, and spread throughout Europe.
They were later introduced in North America by British colonists.
And both dogs and potatos demonstrate the rapidity of breed/cultivar differentiation that can be achieved without anyone realy going out of their way to try to do it.
There were about a 150 varieties of potato in common useage before the civil war, now down to about 20. Yet no one set out to make these varieties, they just planted what seemed to grow best for them.
So does that mean that from now on we should refer to it as "Senor Cabeza de Potato?"
And it had stalks in Brazil, I guess. :^)
Single, highly localized origin has also been demonstrated by DNA testing for the domesticated dog.What? I don't care what they say about all those other dogs, but mine is directly descended from a wolf, a cougar, a wolverine, and a grizzly bear.
Just ask him. (And ignore the fact that he only weights 17 pounds...)
To this day, the yam tuber remains crucial to survival in the region; it can be stored for four to six months without refrigeration, which makes it a valuable resource for the yearly period of food scarcity at the beginning of the wet season.
Mongolian/Asian "yams" have been a favorite food of the Bactrian camel since domestication, roughly 8000-8500 B.C.
Good points. Although we are somewhat ahead of the test results, as a speculation that certainly seems to be how the conclusion is now shaping up for the domestication process.
Don't try to oppress the Incan Mr. Potato Head with the conquistador language.
Wasn't it Limas?
Potatos from Peru, Tomatos from Mexico, Pasta from China. I thought everyone knew these historical items.
My Peruvian Potato theory has been vindicated. This is the greatest moment of my life.
To my many enemies in the potato geneology field, I say: IN YOUR FACE.
Can someone post this picture?
http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/front/darth_tater.jpg
Potato's origins were not traditionally ascribed to Peru per se. The were ascribed the wider area of " somewhere in the Andes", as the article states. The DNA testing narrows the area of origin down quite a bit.
"...said the scientist, who spends two months a year collecting wild potatoes on treks in South America's mountainous regions. "
1. This sounds like the start of a King Kong movie
2. I bet he runs into a lot of tarantulas
3. Me hungry for baked spud with butter & sour cream
Curse you Altair! I still say the potato comes from the horn of Africa.
(Pardone moi for trying to provoke another evolution thread!)
I've been trying to copy that picture. Anyways, it is pure happiness. That facial expression, ears, little butt all just slay me.
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