Today, scientists have uncovered a new evolutionary mystery: the tomato. For centuries, biologists have puzzled over why the tomato, a staple in many diets around the world, has evolved to be so uniquely large and flavorful. Now, a team of researchers has uncovered a clue to this mystery, finding that the tomato’s unique characteristics are due to a gene that has been passed down for thousands of years. This gene, called the “TOMATO” gene, is responsible for the tomato’s large size and intense flavor, and is only present in the tomato’s wild ancestor. The discovery of the TOMATO gene provides new insight into how the tomato has been able to develop into a food staple so beloved around the world.

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source: Phys.org