Corn Past Present and Future
GENETICALLY ALTERED CORN
Corn or maize only exists in its modern form because of humans. Evidence from archaeological
And genetic studies suggests that corn was bred and cultivated by early Mexican inhibiters as
Early as 10,000 years ago. The early Mesoamericans managed to develop corn from its grassy
Ancestor by selective breeding. Corn was bred from a wild grain called teosinte. Teosinte is so unlike modern corn that originally botanists didn’t think the two were even related. An ear of teosinte is only about three inches long, with just five to twelve kernels. Teosinte kernels also have a “tooth-cracking” hard shell. But through many generations, ancient Americans selectively bred plants with larger and larger ears, and softer and softer kernels. Now all that is left of that hard shell is the thin tissue that gets stuck between your teeth when munching a cob of corn. There is a difference between today’s way and the ancient Mexicans way of modifying it. Today corn goes through a process where it is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. There is much controversy to this. Although there are health concerns, the benefits such as corn for eating protecting it from pesticides , livestock feed, cooking oil, ethanol and even making plastics outweigh the slim possibility of side effects: tumors, cancer etc. Ancient corn
The original form of corn in which it started its journey to becoming maize through the help of mankind is known as Teosinte which is actually a grass theteosinte plant has one vertically stem And many diagonal smaller stems which branch off these are the things that hold the
Teosinte Cobs. These cobs are typically 3 to 4 inches long with about 5 kernels per cob and each kernel is Almost as tough as bone. Today it currently still grows wield in the mountainous regions of Sierra Madre. Early alterations
The original thought of using corn was to eat it but due
Corn or maize only exists in its modern form because of humans. Evidence from archaeological
And genetic studies suggests that corn was bred and cultivated by early Mexican inhibiters as
Early as 10,000 years ago. The early Mesoamericans managed to develop corn from its grassy
Ancestor by selective breeding. Corn was bred from a wild grain called teosinte. Teosinte is so unlike modern corn that originally botanists didn’t think the two were even related. An ear of teosinte is only about three inches long, with just five to twelve kernels. Teosinte kernels also have a “tooth-cracking” hard shell. But through many generations, ancient Americans selectively bred plants with larger and larger ears, and softer and softer kernels. Now all that is left of that hard shell is the thin tissue that gets stuck between your teeth when munching a cob of corn. There is a difference between today’s way and the ancient Mexicans way of modifying it. Today corn goes through a process where it is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. There is much controversy to this. Although there are health concerns, the benefits such as corn for eating protecting it from pesticides , livestock feed, cooking oil, ethanol and even making plastics outweigh the slim possibility of side effects: tumors, cancer etc. Ancient corn
The original form of corn in which it started its journey to becoming maize through the help of mankind is known as Teosinte which is actually a grass theteosinte plant has one vertically stem And many diagonal smaller stems which branch off these are the things that hold the
Teosinte Cobs. These cobs are typically 3 to 4 inches long with about 5 kernels per cob and each kernel is Almost as tough as bone. Today it currently still grows wield in the mountainous regions of Sierra Madre. Early alterations
The original thought of using corn was to eat it but due
Bibliography: http://www.biotechknowledge.monsanto.com/biotech/bbasics.nsf/index university of Utah Dr, colorow Salt Lake City, Utah Genetic Science Learning Center. "The Evolution of Corn." Learn the new York times pg 2 article 4 teosinte.com corns real story