Artificial Selection

Question 1

Artificial selection or “Selective Breeding”

Answer 1

• Breeding of species to enhance desirable traits.
• Human-directed process done through controlled mating

Question 2

Process (Artificial Selection)

Answer 2

• The method
• The desired characteristics are identified
• They are bred together
• Only the offspring exhibiting the desired characteristics are bred
• This is repeated over several generations until the desired trait is fully developed

Question 3

CONTRASTING Natural Selection vs Artificial Selection

Answer 3

NATURAL SELECTION
* Organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
* Natural process.
* Maintains variation within populations.
* Slow process.
* Advantageous traits are inherited over time.

ARTIFICIAL SELECTION
* The breeder selects organisms to produce desirable traits in successive generations.
* Humanmade process.
* Can decrease diversity.
* Rapid process due to human intervention.
* Desirable traits are inherited over time

Question 4

Benefits (of Artifical Selection)

Answer 4

• Humans are in charge!
• Enables the development of specific traits for various purposes.
• Accelerates desirable traits in a shorter time frame.

Question 5

Negatives (of Artifical Selection)

Answer 5

• Alters natural evolution, which may impact an organism’s ability to survive in the natural world
• Often involves inbreeding, reducing genetic diversity.
• Ethical concerns when it comes to the “well-being” of an organism