Ben Gutierrez

What's so amazing about apple is just its broad genetic diversity.

Like, it can't self-pollinate.

So each generation of apple is some new cross that's never been done before.

So there's, you know, almost unlimited potential.

Different from other gene banks where you can store the material as seed in a vault, and it's secure and tucked away, and all you need is a fridge or a freezer that won't fail, right?

Apples need to be preserved as trees because the seed, again, the next generation is going to be something different.

A lot of diversity collections in other countries focus on Malus Domestica, the commercial apple, whereas most of our collection is wild.

So we've done a lot of explorations through Kazakhstan.

This one was from Turkey.

It's not bad.

So certainly this is not the next Snapdragon, right?

Like this is maybe 50 to 60 years away from becoming... Optimistic.

It could have an interesting trait for, again, disease resistance.

Maybe like... It could just be some...

Missing link in understanding the evolution of apple as a whole.

That is such a nice way to look at it.

I think the apple's rotten.