All the modern maize (corn) was descended from the domestication of a. Kernel b. Zea mays c. Teosinte d. Balsas
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is c. Teosinte.
Teosinte is a wild grass native to southern Mexico, and it is considered the ancestor of modern maize (corn). The domestication of maize involved selective breeding of Teosinte over thousands of years, transforming it into the large, productive crop we know today. The process of maize domestication began around 9,000 years ago, when indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica started cultivating Teosinte for its edible kernels. These early farmers selected plants with larger, more nutritious seeds, and over generations, these traits became more pronounced.
Teosinte differs from maize in several ways. For instance, its ears are much smaller, the kernels are encased in a hard shell, and the plant’s structure is less robust compared to modern maize. The transition from Teosinte to maize required numerous genetic changes, including alterations in the plant’s morphology, size, and seed structure. Through artificial selection, people favored plants with specific characteristics such as larger ears, more rows of kernels, and reduced branching, leading to the evolution of the maize we recognize today.
Genetic studies have shown that maize and Teosinte share a high degree of genetic similarity. This supports the theory that maize is a direct descendant of Teosinte, with a relatively small number of genetic changes responsible for the domestication process. While other related species such as Zea mays (the scientific name for maize) and Balsas may be part of the maize family or its history, Teosinte is the key ancestor. The domestication of maize revolutionized agriculture and has had lasting effects on global food production, making maize one of the most important crops in the world today.