Sweet corn

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sweet-corn

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the genetic basis?Recessive mutation in genes controlling sugar-to-starch conversion in the endosperm
2. What is the harvest maturity?Immature kernels (milk stage) are harvested for optimal sweetness
3. What makes sweet corn taste so sugary?Sweet corn has a natural genetic mutation that stops sugars from turning into starch, so the corn stays sweet when it’s picked.
4. Why do we have to eat sweet corn soon after picking it?After harvest, the sugars in sweet corn quickly turn into starch, making it less tasty. That’s why it’s best to eat, can, or freeze it right away.

Endosperm: The nutritive tissue within a seed, providing sustenance for the developing embryo.
Recessive Mutation: A genetic alteration that is expressed only when two copies of the mutated gene are present.
Maize: The scientific and international term for corn, a staple cereal grain originating from Mesoamerica.
Milk Stage: An immature stage of corn kernel development characterized by a milky, liquid endosperm rich in sugars.