Concepts in Biology 14th Edition by David Bailey Eldon Enger, Enger, Frederick Ross

Exercise 1

Potato Facts
Some people say the ordinary "Irish" potato is poisonous when the skin is green, and they are at least partly correct. A potato develops a green skin if the potato tuber grows so close to the surface of the soil that it is exposed to light. An alkaloid called solanine develops under this condition and may be present in toxic amounts. Eating such a potato raw can be dangerous. However, cooking breaks down the solanine molecules and makes the potato as edible and tasty as any other. The so-called Irish potato is of interest historically. Its country of origin is only part of the story. Check your local library to find out about this potato and its relatives. Are all related organisms edible? Where did this group of plants develop? Why is it called the Irish potato?