Final answer:
Early agriculture involved the process of domesticating plants by selecting traits that benefited human consumption and use. Wheat and barley were selected for thinner husks and more edible seeds, while maize was developed from the wild plant teosinte through selective breeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
Can you provide an example of the intentional selection of plant attributes for domestication in ancient agricultural practices? Throughout human history, the domestication of plants has been a key factor in the development of agriculture. By selecting plants with specific attributes, humans manipulated and genetically modified them through a process known as artificial selection. One notable example is the transformation of wheat and barley. Early farmers selected varieties with thinner husks and more seeds, creating plants that were more suitable for their needs. Another significant example involves maize, or corn, which was developed from a wild plant called teosinte in Southern Mexico. Through traditional breeding practices and selection for desirable traits, ancient agriculturalists transformed teosinte into today's concept of maize, altering its genetic makeup and creating a highly productive crop.