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From the we-don't-need-your-stinkin-GMO department, the Beeb reports that "Scientists have successfully decoded the genome of quinoa, one of the world's most nutritious but underutilised crops." The team was led by Mark Tester in Saudi Arabia.
The South American grain is a hugely popular "super-food" because it is well balanced and gluten-free. However, prices for quinoa have rocketed in recent years as demand exceeded supply. Researchers believe the genetic code will rapidly lead to more productive varieties that will push down costs.
They go on to say that the genome will be used to direct conventional plant breeding methods. Several traits of the 7000 year old South American grain would improve its utility such as reducing the level of saponins which make it bitter. Also, varieties could be bred for other climates. The plant is naturally able to grow in salty soils and another goal is to breed tolerance to irrigation with brackish water (partially desalinated sea water).
(Score: 3, Interesting) by PiMuNu on Thursday February 09 2017, @02:13PM
> So Tell Me Again, How Do You Pronounce "Quinoa"?
My history teacher always pronounced Louis as Lewis (as in Lewis XIV of france). I thought it was funny, but then I guess no one talks about Paris as in Paree in English. The point is, its okay to anglicise words. That's why I always buy a medium coffee from a coffee shop, rather than a Grande Americano or whatever I'm supposed to ask for. Of course it also invokes a sort of inverse snobbery which maybe some folks don't get. It's also why I'm in software, not in marketing.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @02:31PM
So how would he pronounce quinoa? Would it sound like "queen Noah" or maybe "Quin Noah"? I know it's supposed to be like "keen wah" although I don't understand why.
I found playing anagram games for a while really shows you how crazy spelling is.
Never noticed a bitter taste. Used to boil it and then eat it with spaghetti sauce. It was really good like that.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @06:15PM
"Quin Noah", as derived from "quick" and "boa"
That was easy. Now give me a hand: "San Jose" is something like "San Joe's", but does it rhyme with "hose" or "dose"?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @03:22PM
Not to sound like a snob (I drink both black, without any of that other fu-fu stuff added) but technically americano and drip coffee are two different drinks (watered down espresso vs plain ol' slow drip brew) and have different flavors.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @03:27PM
But yeah, otherwise I'll all with you on the reverse-snobbery. Forget that "grande" crap. I'll have a large, please. I hate buzzwords, too.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @03:47PM
(Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Thursday February 09 2017, @04:02PM
I tried to find a decent blind taste test but all I could see was lots of marketing (i.e. annoying overenthusiastic actors with unconvincing arguments and dodgy fake tan). So I will just make an unsupported claim that you have been ripped by the advertising industry and are some sort of zombie slave or something.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @04:13PM
(Score: 1) by Scruffy Beard 2 on Friday February 10 2017, @12:48AM
I suspect I a slightly more resistant than most.
One time I was asked if I wanted to review an upcoming TV show: it would only take 30 minutes of my time. My emotional brain was like: something is wrong: half-hour TV shows are only 22 minutes [www.cbc.ca] long.
My brother agreed to do it. They were checking how memorable the AD spots were.
(Score: 2) by tibman on Thursday February 09 2017, @07:46PM
"There is a popular, but unconfirmed, belief that the name has its origins in World War II when American G.I.s in Italy would dilute espresso with hot water to approximate the coffee to which they were accustomed."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caff%C3%A8_Americano [wikipedia.org]
SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 09 2017, @07:23PM
It doesn't matter how you pronounce it as long as you are wearing a wide-brimmed hat.