The DNA of modern broccoli has more A and T building blocks than older types — a pattern also seen in corn and soybeans, likely from long-term breeding.
Scientific Claim
Modern hybrid broccoli exhibits a genome-wide AT nucleotide bias (0.373) compared to landraces (0.344), a pattern also seen in other domesticated crops like maize and soybean.
Original Statement
“Mean genome-wide [AT] base composition was highest in the Calabrese hybrid subpopulation and different between subpopulations (p < 0.01)... Calabrese hybrids = 0.373.”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The claim describes a measured compositional difference without asserting causation. 'Exhibits' is appropriately non-causal.
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (0)
Contradicting (1)
The study looks at how broccoli has changed over time but doesn’t measure the balance of A and T letters in its DNA, which is what the claim is about.