Q J Med 2002; 95: 335-336
© 2002 Association of Physicians
Biologic |
Technophobia
The first forms of cultivated wheateinkorn and emmerevolved following the importation of their precursors from the Near East 10 000 to 12 000 years ago. Our Neolithic forebears were skilful genetic manipulators of crops, and they selected for the things that mattered. They achieved a progressive enlargement of the part of the plant that they used, and selected for the loss of seed dispersal mechanisms (this way you keep the entire crop). This was achieved in cereals by diminution of the fragility of
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