artificial selection or selective breeding. what is selective breeding? selective breeding is the...
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Artificial Selection
orSelective Breeding
What is Selective Breeding?
Selective breeding is the process of breeding plants and animals for particular traits. The term selective breeding is synonymous with artificial selection.
This selection process is "artificial" when human preferences for specific traits have a significant effect on the changes in a particular population or species.
Domestication and Selective Breeding
Domestication is the process whereby a population of animals or plants, through a process of artificial selection, is changed at the genetic level, accentuating traits desired by humans.
It differs from taming in that a change in the genetics and physical traits of the animal occurs. Taming is the process by which animals become used to the presence of humans.
Selective breeding tries to establish and maintain certain stable traits that animals will pass to the next generation.
These are traits that humans find desirable in domesticated species such as disease resistance, strength, calmness, more lean meat, endurance, etc.
In many cases this makes the species stronger.
Advantages of Selective Breeding
Breeding from too small a gene pool can lead to the passing on of undesirable characteristics or even a collapse of a breed population due to what is called inbreeding depression.
Breeding for only one trait, over all others, can cause problems.
Disadvantages of Selective Breeding
DOG:bred for pulling, hunting, and protection wolf
chihuahua great dane
greyhound
pitbull
bassett hound
The auroch (ancient bovine, all modern english breeds derived from
angus
hereford
holstein
dwarf angus
brahma
CATTLE:Selectively bred for meat or milk.
HORSE:bred for pulling, riding, meat, and milk
Prezwalski’s horse
miniature
quarter horse
arabian Tennessee walker
shire
CAT:bred for pest control and companionship
African wild cat
Maine coon
devon rexpersian
Scottish fold
munchkin
CORN: bred for larger kernel and ear size
WILD CABBAGE: bred for food
wild cabbage
brussel sproutskale
collard greensbroccoli cauliflower
Selective Breeding…gone too far???
Selective Breeding and Natural Selection
The main difference between natural selection and selective breeding is human involvement.
In natural selection, the reproduction of organisms with certain traits is attributed to improved survival or reproductive ability (survival of the fittest).
In artificial selection, humans favor specific traits and control breeding for those traits.