From Wild Tomato to Tuber: The Origin of the Potato

from Intellectually Curious · host Mike Breault

A landmark genomic study across 128 genomes reveals the potato arose 8–9 million years ago through a hybrid between a wild tomato ancestor and Etuberosum. We unpack how two genes—SP6A and IT1—flipped the switch to tuber formation, creating a brand-new underground storage organ, fueling Andean adaptation and global diversification. We also explore how this map is guiding modern breeding and synthetic biology to shape crops for the future.Note: This podcast was AI-generated, and sometimes AI can make mistakes. Please double-check any critical information.Sponsored by Embersilk LLC

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Dec 30, 2025

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From Wild Tomato to Tuber: The Origin of the Potato

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