Core Insights - The origin of the potato is complex, resulting from a hybridization event between an ancient ancestor of tomatoes and a potato-like plant, leading to the creation of a new species and the development of tubers [1][2] Group 1: Genetic Findings - The potato genome is a "mixed miracle," with approximately 40% of its genes derived from the tomato ancestor and 60% from the potato-like plant [1] - Key genes controlling tuber formation, such as the "master switch" gene SP6A from the tomato and the IT1 gene regulating stolon growth from the potato-like plant, were identified [2] Group 2: Evolutionary Implications - The potato's emergence supports the "punctuated equilibrium" theory of evolution, which suggests that evolution occurs in long periods of stability interrupted by short, rapid changes [2] - The initial potatoes, equipped with tubers, thrived during a period of environmental upheaval in the Andes, allowing them to adapt and occupy various ecological niches [2] Group 3: Future Applications - The research is being translated into breeding practices through the "Excellent Potato Project," aiming to shift from asexual reproduction relying on tubers to sexual reproduction using seeds, which could reduce planting costs and disease risks [3] - A new breeding pathway is proposed, utilizing tomatoes as a genetic platform to introduce key tuber-forming genes, potentially leading to crops that produce both potatoes underground and tomatoes above ground [3]

Core Insights - The origin of the potato is complex, resulting from a hybridization event between an ancient ancestor of the tomato and a potato-like plant, leading to the creation of a new species with tubers [1][2] Group 1: Genetic Findings - The potato genome consists of approximately 40% genes from the tomato ancestor and 60% from the potato-like plant, indicating a significant genetic contribution from both parent species [1] - Key genes controlling tuber formation, such as the SP6A gene from the tomato and the IT1 gene from the potato-like plant, were identified, forming a new regulatory network that enabled the development of tubers [2] Group 2: Evolutionary Implications - The potato's emergence supports the "punctuated equilibrium" theory of evolution, which suggests that evolution occurs in long periods of stability interrupted by short, rapid changes [2] - The initial potatoes, equipped with tubers, thrived during a period of environmental upheaval in the Andes, allowing them to adapt and occupy various ecological niches [2] Group 3: Future Applications - The research is being translated into breeding practices through the "优薯计划," aiming to shift from asexual reproduction relying on tubers to sexual reproduction using seeds, which could lower planting costs and disease risks [3] - A new breeding pathway is proposed, utilizing tomatoes as a genetic platform to introduce tuber-forming genes, potentially leading to crops that produce both potatoes underground and tomatoes above ground [3] - The complexity of tuber formation requires further exploration of regulatory factors to achieve precise potato breeding designs [3]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the concept of "discontinuous equilibrium" in the evolution of civilizations, suggesting that new species or civilizations often emerge from isolated populations that experience random mutations or changes, which can be beneficial for survival [2][4] - It discusses the idea of "deviation zones," which are areas that lie outside the direct influence of a civilization's political and military power but remain within its economic trade sphere, allowing for the potential emergence of new civilizations [3][9] - The article highlights that civilizations often experience a significant short-term evolution followed by a slow accumulation of wealth and resources, establishing new orders based on technological advancements [4][5] Group 2 - The text outlines the historical pattern of continuous warfare in civilization centers, particularly in regions like Mesopotamia, where various empires rose and fell due to resource competition [5][6] - It notes that the rise of new civilizations often occurs in peripheral regions that are geographically isolated from older civilizations, which can lead to significant technological and cultural advancements [10][12] - The article argues that the old centers of civilization struggle to adapt to new technological demands due to their entrenched historical and cultural structures, which can hinder innovation [20][14] Group 3 - The article posits that the emergence of new civilizations is often a result of competition and adaptation to environmental challenges, with successful civilizations being those that can effectively absorb beneficial technologies and discard outdated practices [10][11] - It discusses the cyclical nature of civilization centers and their peripheries, where older civilizations may decline as new ones rise, often due to the inability to innovate or adapt to changing conditions [16][19] - The text suggests that the historical phenomenon of "barbarian" states conquering older civilizations is a recurring theme, indicating that new organizational and technological capabilities can lead to significant shifts in power dynamics [17][18]

来 源 | 中 译 出 版 社 预 计 阅 读 时 间：1 0 分 钟 01 规避重大风险，不要亏损 卓越的投资者，应该是卓越的拒绝者。 作为长期主义者，普拉萨德首先便强调了不亏钱的重要性——虽然没有人会以亏钱为目标进行投资，但如 同生活中大多数表面上看似简单的事情一样，"不亏钱"说起来容易，做起来难。 而普拉萨德一开始便建议 投资者"不要急着下手投资"，因为学习何时避免投资的技巧，要比学习"如何投资"更难，也更加重要。 就像在自然界中，所有生物都会把生存放在第一位一样，普拉萨德也选择先树立起"拒绝者"的角色，即使因 此错过高额获利机会，也不会懊恼。具体而言，投资者应避免：一做了不该做的事（买入劣质企业），二 该做的事没有做（错过优秀企业）。如： 由于市面上的优质投资其实寥寥无几，通过优先考虑风险规避，投资者可以保护他们的资本并增加他们获 得长期成功的机会。这种方法可能意味着错过一些潜在的盈利机会（如"特斯拉" ），但它大大降低了灾难 性损失的可能性。 在投 资世界中，如何找到那些能够持续成长、穿越周期的优质企业？在探索这一问题时，印度投资人 普拉克·普拉萨德（Prakash Prasad）在《我从达尔文那里 ...