Corn (maize) was domesticated around 9,000 years ago through artificial selection. Ancient farmers selectively planted kernels from plants with desirable traits, such as bigger kernels, ease of harvest, and better taste. During this time, the wild ancestor of maize, teosinte, has been under natural selection that favors those traits that improve the chance of survival and reproduction in the wild. Maize and teosinte look different in many ways. Assign the following pairs of traits to their respective species by circling the correct response, then provide a hypothesis to explain why these traits were favored during natural or artificial selection in the space allotted.
Trait #1: In (maize or teosinte), the seed is encased in a hard fruit case. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because __________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the seed is exposed. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because _________________________________________________.
Trait #2: In (maize or teosinte), the plant has one main stalk. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ___________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the plant has many branches. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ____________________________________.
Trait #3: In (maize or teosinte), the ear breaks apart to release individual kernels at maturity. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ___________________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the ear remains intact at maturity. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because __________________________________.
2. If both maize and teosinte are grown in the wild, which species is more likely to proliferate? Why?
Corn (maize) was domesticated around 9,000 years ago through artificial selection. Ancient farmers selectively planted kernels from plants with desirable traits, such as bigger kernels, ease of harvest, and better taste. During this time, the wild ancestor of maize, teosinte, has been under natural selection that favors those traits that improve the chance of survival and reproduction in the wild. Maize and teosinte look different in many ways. Assign the following pairs of traits to their respective species by circling the correct response, then provide a hypothesis to explain why these traits were favored during natural or artificial selection in the space allotted.
Trait #1: In (maize or teosinte), the seed is encased in a hard fruit case. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because __________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the seed is exposed. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because _________________________________________________.
Trait #2: In (maize or teosinte), the plant has one main stalk. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ___________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the plant has many branches. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ____________________________________.
Trait #3: In (maize or teosinte), the ear breaks apart to release individual kernels at maturity. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because ___________________________________________. In (maize or teosinte), the ear remains intact at maturity. This trait may be favored during (artificial or natural) selection because __________________________________.
2. If both maize and teosinte are grown in the wild, which species is more likely to proliferate? Why?
Related textbook solutions
Related questions
In what way did Harlanâs theory give rise to Diamondâs theory?
| It recognized agriculture might have developed by different mechanisms in different parts of the world. |
| Both make the assumption that hunter-gatherers were (and still are) superior to agriculturists. |
| It recognized the reason agriculture did not develop in certain parts of the world was because people lacked the intelligence or skill. |
| It is a basic case of scientific plagiarism - Diamonds theory is identical to Harlans theory. |
| It recognized that agricultural societies were healthier and better fed than hunter-gatherer societies. What is the difference between classically bred varieties and landraces?
|
Choose the single best answer
The inability of plants to move makes it difficult for them to:
| Disperse seeds, defend themselves, and create oxygen. |
| Disperse seeds. |
| Disperse seeds and defend themselves. |
| Create oxygen. |
| Defend themselves. |
Vavilov hypothesized that in a crop plant's area of origin we should expect:
| Greater diversity for trans-domesticated species, but lower diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Greater genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. |
| Lower genetic diversity than in areas outside of the plant's area of origin. |
| Lower diversity for trans-domesticated species, but greater diversity for species domesticated in their area of origin. |
| Greater herbivore damage because of increased genetic diversity. |
What is one type of information that can be gathered by archeologists who are studying dental caries (cavities) of ancient populations?
| How many children the person had |
| The time of year the person died |
| How many conflicts they have been part of |
| The types of tools used for planting/harvesting grains |
| The type of plants they may have been consuming |
Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are all different varieties of the same species, Brassica oleracea. This group of plants demonstrates that crop breeding can lead to:
| Low within variety and high between variety diversity |
| High within variety and low between variety diversity |
| Low within variety diversity |
| High within variety and high between variety diversity |
| High between variety diversity |
The repeated domestication of grasses (i.e., cereals) and legumes across the globe is likely because:
| Early technologies allowed early agriculturalists the ability to communicate with each other over long distances to discuss what plants were best for domestication. |
| Both already possessed all of the traits needed for domestication |
| Both contain almost all of the amino acids our bodies need to build proteins. |
| Human populations were often starving, and needed an additional food source |
| Only grasses, not legumes, were repeatedly domesticated |
Norman Borlaug won the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for:
| Producing the first transgenic plant. |
| His discovery that plant secondary metabolites play a role in defending plants from insects and diseases. |
| Creating the FlavrSavr tomato. |
| His work to create improved, high yield crop varieties that helped to prevent starvation. |
| His discovery of the area of origin for maize. |
______________________ compounds are produced by plants, but are not necessary for the plant's immediate survival. However, they often help protect plants from being eaten.
Which of the following best demonstrates evolution?
| A houseplant is moved to a sunnier location and it starts to grow more vigorously. |
| Your pet walks to the door when it hears your car in the driveway. |
| Over time, a gene for disease resistance becomes more frequent in a population of plants. |
| A crop has a higher yield after fertilizer is added. |
| A giraffe with a longer neck survives a drought year, while one with a shorter neck does not. |
In discussing the origin of agriculture, the term demographic stress refers to:
| Lower productivity of un-cultivated plants due to late-Pleistocene cooling. |
| A higher incidence of religious practice in societies following the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. |
| The situation where human populations are greater than the carrying capacity of the environment. |
| Hobbes's assertion that hunter-gatherer groups did not posses the knowledge or skills to develop agriculture. |
| That the stresses on pre-domesticated plant species led to the development of traits that result in the "domestication syndromeâ |
What is the difference between genetically-modified and transgenic crops?
| Genetically-modified crops are produced using modern techniques, while transgenic crops are produced through classical breeding. |
| Transgenic crops are a type of genetically-modified crops, in which scientists have inserted genes from another species. |
| Transgenic crops are illegal, while genetically-modified crops are not. |
| They are the same. |
| Genetically-modified crops are a type of transgenic crop specifically bred for high yield. |
