A study on wild Cucurbita genomes reveals how domestication and introgression played a role in shaping pumpkins and squashes. By analyzing the genetic makeup of Cucurbita argyrosperma, researchers found structural variations and key genes linked to domestication traits. The domesticated crop likely originated in Jalisco, Mexico, and shows genetic influences from a related species, Cucurbita moschata. Genes involved in growth, defense, flowering, and seed development were identified as important in the domestication process. This research sheds light on the genetic changes that occurred during the domestication of these important crops.