Question

The development of modern corn from teosinte, a group of large Central and South American grasses, is an example of

A) selective breeding.
B) sexual selection.
C) natural selection.
D) random genetic drift.

Answer 1

The development of modern corn from teosinte is an example of selective breeding, a process guided by human choices to create desirable traits in crops.

Step-by-step explanation:

The transformation of teosinte into modern corn, also known as maize, is an example of selective breeding. This process started thousands of years ago by indigenous people in what is now Mexico. They chose plants with desirable traits, like more fruitful and easier to harvest attributes, which over time permanently altered the plant's genetic instructions. This selection led to modern maize that looks and behaves very differently compared to its ancestor, teosinte.

Selective breeding, also known as artificial selection, is different from natural selection in that it is guided by human choices rather than environmental pressures. However, both processes can lead to significant changes in species over time. In the case of maize, selective breeding was crucial to developing the crop we now rely on extensively for food.