Decoding The Secret Behind Succulent Treats
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Ever wondered why some strawberries are super sweet, while others not so much or why some chocolates taste creamier than others? It's all to do with the same thing that makes each human being different - the genes. Now, scientists believe they have unlocked the code that will take them one step closer to even more delicious versions of not only these two treats, but others as well.
The two separate studies conducted by a team from 38 organizations from all over the world, was led by scientists from France's CIRAD, an organization that tackles agricultural issues. Their mission is to not only create tastier produce, but also, one that is healthier and more resilient to disease.
For the chocolate study, the scientists selected Criollo - A cacao tree that was first cultivated by humans during the Mayan era, about 3,000 years ago. Amongst the 28,798 genes identified, were two that help protect the plant against disease. Also identified, were the genes that influence the amount of natural antioxidants, aroma, color and flavor.
In the case of strawberries, the scientists picked the wild Woodland Strawberry, which they uncovered has an astonishing 35,000 genes or about one and half times the number found in humans. Similar to the cacao tree, they were able to segregate the ones responsible for diseases, aroma, color and flavor.
The scientists are now hoping to use this information to cultivate plants that can resist diseases, which in turn will lead to better yields and more sustainable farming, especially in the case of the highly susceptible cacao tree.
Also, since the strawberry is part of the Rosaceae family of plants, which includes apples, peaches, pears, raspberries and roses, they are hoping to use similar techniques to boost the production of other fruits as well.
Genes are chemicals that determine the traits or characteristics that all living things inherit from their parents. In the case of humans they determine things like how a person looks, how tall he/she is, whether he/she has curly or straight hair etc. etc. Each of the between 20,000-25,000 genes, housed inside the nucleus of every human cell, carry their own blueprint or pre-determined function. It is the malfunction of these protein molecules that leads to all kinds of diseases in living creatures, which is the reason scientists study them so closely.
Sources: topnews.us, cbc.ca,kidshealth.org
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608 Comments
- Me Myself and Ialmost 10 yearsyumyumyum
diamondkidalmost 10 yearsCool!
kimberly56almost 10 yearsCHOCOLATE IS THE BEST
blossomalmost 10 yearsMY FAVORITE CHOCOLATE- kimberly56almost 10 yearsi have always loved chocolate and will never stop loving chocolate
tree300almost 10 yearsCHOCOLATE I AM HUNGRY- wickedalmost 10 yearsBig help appilipines and Mikhail can I hAng with u
aphpirialmost 10 yearsSure!Come on in, wicked.
donutssalmost 10 yearsyum
bigmeloalmost 10 yearsNot just yummy, but scriddly-umptious! :D
crystalmorialmost 10 yearsI like that Roald Dahl reference :D
superponyalmost 10 yearsYup!
- bigmeloalmost 10 years*sing to the tune of 'White Christmas* I'm dreaming of some sweet chocolate, just like the ones I ate before... :D
nikukyualmost 10 yearsHey bigmelo, how 'bout we do a duet!- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsI swear, it's gonna be #1 on the 'Hot 100'! :D
- nikukyualmost 10 yearsOur name should be...hmmm oh, I know! We are....*drum roll please*.......'The DOGO girls'!!! Lol XD
- nikukyualmost 10 yearsActually, if any boys want to join, just say so! We can just change our name to 'the DOGO kidz' (notice how I purposely wrote 'kidz'? So cool, right?:D
- crystalmoriover 9 yearsHey, nikukyu, how did your Field Day go? Or is it still coming up?
gso44almost 10 yearsI want to join! sing to the tune of I 'm dreaming of a white christmas. continue on from bigmelo, Where the chocalte glisten and people eat the chocolate. Not very good.- crystalmorialmost 10 yearsWhere the chocolate glistens, and noses are sniffin' to smell the chocolate on the stove~ Thanks for getting me started, gso44! Without you I don't think I would've come up with that. I hope it's good....
- gso44almost 10 yearsawesome!
- crystalmorialmost 10 yearsThank you. ^.^
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsWhat are you talking about! That was great! :D
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsGood idea! It's almost like 'Kidz Bop' over here in the U.S.A., but Dogo version! :D
- aphpirialmost 10 yearsSo, what should we cover first?Counting Stars?/
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsI love that song - sure we can! :D But before we decide, any other suggestions? :D
- diamondkidalmost 10 yearsThe Pentatonix! (I love them BTW)
- aphpirialmost 10 yearsGreen Day and Budapest by George Ezra.
- bigmeloover 9 yearsI absolutely approve! Can I contribute some songs? I'd like to put in 'Honey I'm good by Andy Grammer & 'Rather Be' by Clean Bandit, featuring Jess Glynne. Those are my jams! :D
- crystalmorialmost 10 yearsIs it sad that I know none of these songs?
felicisowlover 9 yearsHaha, of course not! I don't listen to main-stream music either..Sorry guys, I don't exactly like KidsBop, but if you want to then you definitely can do covers like that XD- bigmeloover 9 yearsOf course not! I usually hear of songs once everyone else has heard of them! :D
- aphpiriover 9 yearsGreen Day is a band, not a song.
- diamondkidalmost 10 yearsTotally!
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsOh, my god. Yes... :D
animefan3almost 10 yearsCan I join you and bigmelo nikukyu- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsSure, why not? We'll make it a trio! If anyone else wants to sing with us, feel free to join - soon our group's going to be so big, that maybe it'll be an 'acapella tribe'! :D
- animefan3almost 10 yearsYay I like having fun with my friends😄
aphphilippinesalmost 10 yearsHow 'bout an Quartet?- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsHa, this is so happening right now! Ladies & gentlemen, I present to you - The Dogo Girls! :D
- animefan3almost 10 yearsThank bigmelo
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsYou're welcome, animefan3! In fact, we can even make this a musical! Everyone, auditions are ongoing! :D
- animefan3almost 10 yearsYea you should bigmelo
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsHey, I've gotten an idea! Let's put up posters to advertise for the auditions! :D
- animefan3almost 10 yearsOk sure
- aphpirialmost 10 yearsHey guys. It's me, aphphilippines!My account was deleted, so I'll be using this one now!Just wanted to let y'all know.
- diamondkidalmost 10 yearsMine too. I had 262 followers and now I have 30. Aw, Shucks.
- aphpirialmost 10 yearsRight? Not to metion the points..
- crystalmorialmost 10 years'kay, thanks for telling us! Glad you're back. But wait, why was your account deleted in he first place? :(
- diamondkidalmost 10 yearsMine too but no. The people who I was following and all my followers got deleted. I had 262 followers!
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsOkay! Well, welcome back, aphgirl! :D
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsActually, make that aphpiri! :D
wildpeepalmost 10 yearsHi can I join ?- animefan3almost 10 yearsOf course everybody that we know can join
- bigmeloalmost 10 yearsOf course, wildpeep! You'd be welcome anyday. :D
- aphpirialmost 10 yearsSure! Come on in!
sherlockcutepupalmost 10 yearshi can I join?
bluetoothabout 10 yearsNO! Don't show me chocolate!XD
palmbeach123about 10 yearsyou can say that again beautifulgirl