A recent study published in the journal Nature has revealed some of the genetic secrets of America’s favorite fruit, the banana. Scientists from the University of California, Davis have used advanced genetic sequencing techniques to analyze the genomes of more than a dozen varieties of bananas, including both cultivated and wild varieties. The research team discovered that the bananas we eat today are the result of thousands of years of selective breeding, which has resulted in a unique set of genetic traits that make the fruit sweet and easy to transport. The study also revealed that the genetic variation among different banana varieties is much greater than previously thought. This research provides an important insight into the history of the banana and could help scientists develop new varieties in the future.

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source: Phys.org