BIOL3190 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Mutation Rate, Endosperm, Mitosis
Document Summary
Dna evidence supports the founding corn population of about 20 individuals about 9000 years ago, genes were widespread by 4400 years. Estimated that 4-5 mutations can account for the dramatic difference between modern corn and maize and teosinte. Regulatory mutations can alter the transcription of whole gene batteries. Our survival then and now depends on flowering plants: flowering plants produce seeds, flower contains male and female gametes in different structures. Flowering plants are structurally diverse: male and female structures are readily apparent in cosmos flowers, flowers attract pollinators, flowering grasses are much less showy. Seeds are energy rich, it contains the embryo and is the food source (endosperm) Tuberous plants were probably the first domesticated food crops because of how easy they are to propagate: tubers are underground growth rich in nutrients, sexual reproduction from flowers is also possible which would generate new varieties.
