A core collection has been identified for West African yams.
How the cat became a pet
A DNA study of almost a thousand wild and domestic cats from around the world is helping to unravel the evolutionary history of this most numerous of household pets. There are five wild subspecies of nearest-relatives, including one in the Near East, from which all domesticated cats are derived, though there has been subsequent hybridization of house cats with local wild populations here and there. Modern cat breeds can trace their origin to at least five mothers domesticated in the Fertile Crescent around the same time as agriculture started, over 9,000 years ago. And, coincidentally, there’s news also today of archaeological evidence from nearby Cyprus backing up that date.
Identifying wheat proteins
There’s a new, better method for characterizing the proteins in wheat.
Peru’s potato celebration encircles the world
An Associated Press report on a potato harvest in the high Andes of Peru has been picked up by scores of newspapers around the world. That’s salutary, because I often forget that what is old news for those of us in the business, as it were, is fresh and interesting for hordes of other people. There’s often very good mileage to be had from simply showing others the diversity you may be quite familiar with.
Earthworm genetic diversity
Earthworms are agricultural biodiversity too!