Genetic Diversity and the Future of Food

What is the main focus of the mystery box mentioned in the text?

• Dog toys

• Makeup

• Food from local farmers

• Subscription services

What happened to the hundreds of varieties of corn and other edible plants that American farmers used to grow?

• They were destroyed by pests

• They were replaced by genetically modified crops

• They were lost due to industrialization and the shift to monoculture farming

• They were preserved in seed banks

How did humans initially develop the foods we recognize today, such as corn and eggplant?

• By cultivating wild plants

• By importing seeds from other countries

• By genetically modifying existing crops

• By crossbreeding animals and plants

What led to a decrease in genetic diversity in crops?

• The spread of industrialization and cheap fossil fuels

• The introduction of genetically modified organisms

• The loss of seed banks

• The decline in global food demand

What was the consequence of growing genetically identical corn plants in the US?

• Increased resistance to pests and diseases

• Decreased crop yields

• The spread of Southern Leaf Corn Blight

• Improved harvest efficiency

What plant played a crucial role in halting the damage caused by Southern Leaf Corn Blight?

• Teosinte

• Potatoes

• Thorn Apple

• Eggplant

What percentage of corn grown in the US today is derived from just six inbred lines?

• 10%

• 25%

• 40%

• 60%

Why do seed companies repackage genetic copies of the same seeds for different prices?

• To increase profits

• To improve crop yields

• To promote genetic diversity

• To support local farmers

What has happened to genetically uniform crops of beans, rice, tomatoes, and bananas since the corn crisis in 1971?

• They have become more resistant to diseases

• They have experienced increased crop yields

• They have been devastated by diseases

• They have become more genetically diverse

How is climate change affecting the production of corn, wheat, and rice?

• It is increasing their yields

• It is decreasing their yields

• It is making them more resistant to pests

• It is making them more genetically diverse