Summary
An hypothesis is developed that the rapid change from wild plants into domesticated crops principally involves the selection of alleles with non-functional gene products which leads to reduced control of the highly integrated metabolism and morphogenesis previously accumulated by lengthy natural selection. Such disturbance of the genome produces altered physiological and morphological development which, although deleterious in nature, serves mankind better and has been selected.
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Lester, R.N. Evolution under domestication involving disturbance of genic balance. Euphytica 44, 125–132 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022606
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00022606