Final answer:
Teosinte, a wild grass, was transformed into modern maize through artificial selection by indigenous people in what is now Mexico. Selective breeding over generations altered teosinte's genetic makeup, leading to domesticated corn with traits suitable for agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plant depicted in the figure, teosinte, has undergone a transformation through artificial selection to become what is known today as maize, or modern corn. This process was carried out by indigenous people thousands of years ago in what is now Mexico, selecting traits such as large seeds for cultivation. Through generations of selective breeding, the genetic information of teosinte was altered, giving rise to new traits that eventually resulted in the domesticated corn we know today. This traditional breeding method demonstrates how humans have directed the evolution of plant species, leading to a variety of crops that we heavily rely on for food, including potatoes and tomatoes from wild nightshade, and various vegetables such as cabbage and kale from wild mustard.