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.