what is a species

[Richard Jensen]

We may view a cultivar as nothing more than an artificially maintained
gene pool.  It is still representative of the species from which it was
derived, even if the wild progenitors are now extinct.  Consider modern
maize - it is a cultivar (there are actually hundreds of "cultivars" or
races) and is probably all that remains of its species.

Richard J. Jensen      |   E-MAIL: rjensen at saintmarys.edu
Dept. of Biology       |   TELEPHONE: 219-284-4674
Saint Mary's College   |   FAX: 219-284-4716
Notre Dame, IN  46556  |