Oryza sativa, or rice, was originally domesticated globally in the Yangtze River basin 13,500 to 8,200 years ago. It's a pivotal cereal plant model organism due to its ease of genetic modification. This grass species features erect, smooth-stemmed plants ranging from 80 to 120 centimeters tall with lanceolate leaves. It encompasses two principal subspecies: sticky, short-grained japonica and nonsticky, long-grained indica varieties, with distinct cultivation preferences and histories.