About how many years ago did farmers begin to domesticate maize? ⇒ 10000 The first domestication of maize occurred in the area of what present-day country? ⇒ Mexico What is the name of the wild grass from which maize originated? ⇒ teosinte How does the DNA in teosinte and today’s maize compare? Is it similar or different? Can teosinte cross-breed with present-day maize and produce hybrids?