Artificial selection

Definition

Artificial selection is a process by which humans breed specific plants or animals for desired traits, influencing the genetic makeup of future generations. This practice contrasts with natural selection, where environmental pressures determine which individuals survive and reproduce. By intentionally selecting for particular characteristics, artificial selection can lead to rapid changes in a species and create varieties that may not survive in the wild without human intervention.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Artificial selection has been used for thousands of years in agriculture to create crops with higher yields, disease resistance, and better flavors.
2. The process can lead to the development of purebred breeds in domesticated animals, such as dogs and livestock, often exaggerating specific physical traits.
3. Unlike natural selection, artificial selection can result in a loss of genetic diversity, making species more vulnerable to diseases and environmental changes.
4. Examples of artificial selection include the breeding of dogs for size, temperament, and appearance or the cultivation of crops like corn and wheat for desirable harvest traits.
5. In some cases, traits selected through artificial means may lead to negative health issues or other unintended consequences in the organisms involved.

Review Questions

• How does artificial selection differ from natural selection in terms of the forces that drive the process?
  • Artificial selection differs from natural selection primarily in the driving forces behind each process. In natural selection, environmental pressures dictate which individuals survive and reproduce based on their adaptability to their surroundings. In contrast, artificial selection is driven by human choices, where specific traits are deliberately selected to enhance certain characteristics within a species. This distinction highlights how human intervention can rapidly alter the course of evolution compared to the gradual changes seen in nature.
• Discuss the potential consequences of artificial selection on genetic diversity within domesticated species.
  • Artificial selection often leads to reduced genetic diversity within domesticated species as specific traits are favored over others. This selective breeding can create purebred lines that lack variation, making them more susceptible to diseases and environmental changes. As these breeds become more homogenous, their ability to adapt to new challenges diminishes. Therefore, while artificial selection can yield desirable traits in the short term, it poses significant risks for long-term sustainability and health of these populations.
• Evaluate the ethical considerations surrounding artificial selection practices in both agriculture and animal breeding.
  • The ethical considerations surrounding artificial selection practices are multifaceted and involve debates about animal welfare, biodiversity loss, and food security. In agriculture, while artificial selection can produce high-yield crops, concerns arise regarding monocultures that reduce resilience against pests and climate change. In animal breeding, ethical dilemmas include the suffering experienced by animals bred for extreme traits that can lead to health problems. Thus, evaluating artificial selection requires balancing the benefits of increased productivity against the potential harm to individual organisms and ecosystems.

Related terms

Selective breeding: The process of choosing specific animals or plants with desirable traits to reproduce, enhancing those traits in future generations.

Genetic modification: A biotechnological technique that alters the genetic material of an organism, allowing for direct manipulation of genes to achieve desired traits.

Domestication: The process through which wild species are adapted to human environments and bred for specific traits, resulting in a dependency on humans for reproduction and survival.