Many fruits and vegetables that you wouldn’t think are related just by looking at them are actually very closely related, genetically speaking.

What about tomatoes and potatoes? Are they related?

Yes, they are!

Both tomatoes and potatoes belong to the same plant genus, solanum, also called the nightshade family of plants. Although they don’t look similar, their genetics are strikingly similar to one another.

In fact, wild potato plants sometimes grow small cherry-sized fruits on them, and wild tomato plants sometimes grow fruits that don’t turn red, and are similar to wild potato fruits.