Present-day cotton. Scientists studying 1,600-year-old cotton from the banks of the Nile have found what they believe is the first evidence that punctuated evolution has occurred in a major crop group within the relatively short history of plant domestication. (Credit: © Zorro12 / Fotolia)
Farmers have been improving their crops for a long, long time.
You think maize has always consisted of big, sweet, juicy ears? You think apples have always been plump? Cotton got improved as well.
It's called Intelligent Design.
Applying the term “evolution” to the purposeful activities of farmers in selective breeding to improve quality and yield is specious and dishonest.
Garden ping?
A millenium and a half.
People who write for a living should learn the language they use.
Sorry, that requires far more faith in modern scientific fads than I can muster.
Ever since I read that book back in 1966 or '67 I think of Milo, him cornering the market of Egyptian Cotton but having no buyers. So tried making everyone on the base EAT IT by covering it in chocolate. LOL
What a book! I think I've read four times -- and a copy is still in my nightstand.
