The strange origin of the potato Scientists have finally discovered the origin of the potato:

About 9 million years ago, an ancestor of the tomato mated with an ancient plant called Etuberosum. The result was a new plant called #Petota, which for the first time was able to produce tubers — what we call #potatoes today!

The combination of two specific genes (SP6A from the tomato and IT1 from Etuberosum) caused the tuber to form.

Unlike the tomato, the potato reproduces through #tuber, which allows harmful mutations to accumulate.

Today's scientists' goal: to produce new potatoes using seeds (not tubers), to reduce disease and harmful mutations.

The result?
The tomato not only helped give birth to the potato, but is also going to save it in the future!

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