Bananas may become extinct, experts say

Saturday, May 3, 2014, 6:28 PM -

Many of us eat them regularly, or at least food items made with them. So it's hard to imagine a world without bananas. 

Sadly, that may be the case someday. 

Some experts say the extinction of the banana is inevitable, and will have a lot to do with genetics. 

Others disagree, saying that research will save the mellow, yellow fruit, one of the oldest fruit crops. 

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Bananas were first grown in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea more than 7000 years ago. But over that time, it has been cultivated to the point where most bananas have identical DNA. That makes them vulnerable to pests and diseases on a global level. 

Up until the 1960's, a variety known as Gros Michel was the most popular banana in Europe, Canada and the U.S. 

But that changed when a fungus wiped out South American crops. Growers were then forced to switch to the Cavendish banana, a more resistant variety.