Why are lemons sour?

Subject: Why are lemons sour?

Date: Mon Sep 22 05:51:48 2003
Posted by Michael Rosen
Grade level: grad (non-science) School: Oxford University
City: Oxford State/Province: Oxfordshire Country: U.K.
Area of science: Evolution
ID: 1064227908.Ev

Message:


I believe that fruit has evolved so as to be attractive to animals who will 
spread seeds by consuming it. Sweetness is a recognized sign of ripeness used 
by plants to ensure that fruit is consumed at the optimal time. Why, then, are 
lemons sour? I can think of two answers. (1) There are animals who judge that 
raw lemons are palatable and the plant has evolved to specialize itself for 
them. (2)The cultivated form of lemons are a kind of "arrested" form of a wild 
ancestor that is, in fact, sweet.

Re: Why are lemons sour?

Current Queue | Current Queue for Evolution | Evolution archives

Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Evolution.