Final answer:
Scientists study sweet potatoes to understand the genetic evolution of agricultural crops, exploring the diversity created through selective breeding. Starchy root vegetables like potatoes and cassava are also important foods heavily influenced by agricultural practices. Natural genetic modifications in sweet potatoes have been discovered, which contribute to our knowledge of plant evolution and diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists chose to study the sweet potato to better understand the genetic evolution of agricultural crops. Throughout human history, agricultural practices have led to the selective breeding of crops like sweet potatoes, potatoes, and maize, to meet specific needs of different cultures. This process has created a diverse range of plant varieties, each suited to particular environmental conditions.
Other starchy root vegetables consumed by people include potatoes and cassava (tapioca). Andean natives developed numerous potato varieties to thrive under varying conditions over 10,000 years ago. Similarly, the people of the Amazon region domesticated manioc trees and invented ways to detoxify their poisonous roots, turning them into a vital food source.
The sweet potato itself is an example of a naturally genetically-modified organism, as it contains naturally occurring Agrobacterium T-DNAs. This naturally transgenic characteristic was revealed through the study of the sweet potato's genome. The secondary growth of sweet potato roots, which creates more space for starch storage, is an important aspect of its utility as a food crop, much like the tuber formation in potatoes, which is a response to certain environmental triggers.