GENECENTRE

also spelled Genecenter, any of a number of areas on the Earth from which arose important crop plants and domestic animals. As few as four of these centres of origin have probably provided the great majority of the most useful plants and animals: (1) tropical southeastern Asiarice, chickens; (2) temperate southwestern Asiawheat, sheep, goats, asses; (3) subtropical or temperate Mexico and Central Americacorn (maize), turkeys; and (4) the central Andes of South Americapotatoes, guinea pigs, llamas. Genecentres were located in mountainous regions in temperate and tropical climates that historically were areas of fairly high population.