# Which human bred plant is the most genetically different from the original ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626 "2017-07-19T03:55:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/61 "2017-07-26T17:36:55Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Strange, how all those loose grains get on trucks without human help. > > The point is, corn is tightly wrapped in a thick layer of tough leaves. If no human is there to shuck away the leaves, the seeds rot. Without human intervention, corn is boned in a single generation. There are plenty of animals to help and also some grow older versions for fun. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/62 "2017-07-26T19:10:43Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > The wild strawberries I’m familiar with are something like [this](https://highmountainmuse.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/strawberries-and-creams/one-of-the-many-wild-strawberries-on-the-hillside-below-ditch/)–tiny, and yes, ranging from bitter to tasteless. Mine are extremely similar to yours in appearance and size (in fact I can’t see a difference) but…they’re sweet, and more flavorful than any garden variety I ever had. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/63 "2017-07-27T13:31:39Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Strange, how all those loose grains get on trucks without human help. > > The point is, corn is tightly wrapped in a thick layer of tough leaves. If no human is there to shuck away the leaves, the seeds rot. Without human intervention, corn is boned in a single generation. The “leaves” loosen and slough off in many climates. Remember, the ears remain on the stalk until the stalk falls over. The stalk is much tougher than the rest of the greenery. Staying off the ground until the husks loosen helps quite a bit. Plus you have animals always foraging around and they are very, very sloppy. Remember, I’m not talking about “ideal” propagation. Just one kernel in one ear is needed to self-propagate. * * * Anyone who has ever spent any time on a farm knows perfectly well that grains fall off trucks all the time. This creates a major problem with animals like crows and pigeons in areas where a lot of trucks go by or stop. And those grains are perfectly capable of not just sprouting but also reseeding themselves. To suggest that this doesn’t happen is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/64 "2017-07-27T14:52:23Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > There are a dozen or two wild species, not to mention hybrids, and I’ve yet to encounter one I’d describe as “gritty seeds and hard and bitter, or at best pithy and tasteless.” > . . . > [@clairobscur](#): > > Mine are extremely similar to yours in appearance and size (in fact I can’t see a difference) but…they’re sweet, and more flavorful than any garden variety I ever had. 😕 There’s a variety here in Northern Virginia that tends to take over people’s lawns. That’s the one I’m describing. It makes sense that there would be other varieties though. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Strange, how all those loose grains get on trucks without human help. > > The point is, corn is tightly wrapped in a thick layer of tough leaves. If no human is there to shuck away the leaves, the seeds rot. Without human intervention, corn is boned in a single generation. The crows take care of that. If the corn is left on the stem long enough, the seeds will germinate. The corn we eat is immature. (popcorn might germinate ??) > [@ftg](#): > > . . . > Anyone who has ever spent any time on a farm knows perfectly well that grains fall off trucks all the time. This creates a major problem with animals like crows and pigeons in areas where a lot of trucks go by or stop. And those grains are perfectly capable of not just sprouting but also reseeding themselves. > > To suggest that this doesn’t happen is ridiculous. Agreed. Then the feasting birds fly off and poop somewhere else. It only takes one bee to hit the resulting volunteer and then several heritage plants get hybridized. I read once about a crop of specialized GMO plants hybridizing a crop of heritage organics from across town. It was theorized that just the wind would have accomplished this. The GMO seed producer was trying to sue the Organic farmer for stealing intellectual property, and the organic farmer was suing the GMO farmer for destroying his crops. Sadly, the only ones not getting sued were the GMO seed producers. With a little luck, the GMO farmer’s insurance company will be able to subrogate the claim to the GMO seed producer’s insurance company, who will subsequently raise their rates. Ain’t corporate law wonderful? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![mistymage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mistymage/32/459_2.png) [@mistymage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mistymage)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/65 "2017-07-27T17:15:30Z")
Regarding wild strawberries I think the ones described as tasteless and gritty are probably the invasive Mock strawberries: [Potentilla indica - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_strawberry) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2017, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626/66 "2017-07-27T17:26:39Z")
> [@mistymage](#): > > Regarding wild strawberries I think the ones described as tasteless and gritty are probably the invasive Mock strawberries: [Potentilla indica - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_strawberry) Yep, that’s probably the one I’m thinking of. Big patches of them around here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-human-bred-plant-is-the-most-genetically-different-from-the-original/791626.md?page=3)