Most grapes have 19 pairs of chromosomes, but Muscadines have 20 pairs; these extra chromosomes contain Muscadines phytochemicals, which protect cells from free-radical damage and nutrients that other grapes lack. 'America's First Grape,' the muscadine, was already growing wild in America before European settlers arrived back in the 1500's, and they started cultivating it soon after that. Since then, generations and generations of Americans have grown them, but only in the last few years has the true power and potential of this treasure really been discovered.