Selective breeding was established as a scientific practice by Robert Bakewell during the British Agricultural Revolution in the 18th century. Arguably, his most important breeding program was with sheep. Using native stock, he was able to quickly select for large, yet fine-boned sheep, with long, lustrous wool.
Who is involved in selective breeding?
Selective breeding involves choosing parents with particular characteristics to breed together and produce offspring with more desirable characteristics . Humans have selectively bred plants and animals for thousands of years including: crop plants with better yields.
Who is responsible for artificial selection?
Farmers and breeders allowed only the plants and animals with desirable characteristics to reproduce, causing the evolution of farm stock. This process is called artificial selection because people (instead of nature) select which organisms get to reproduce.
Is selective breeding controlled by humans?
Artificial selection (or selective breeding) differs from natural selection in that heritable variations in a species are manipulated by humans through controlled breeding .
How did selective breeding take place?
Selective breeding takes place over many generations . The main steps for both plants and animals involve: ... Breed these together to produce the next generation. Repeat the process continuously over many generations, until all offspring show the desired characteristics.
What are the disadvantages of selective breeding?
- reduced genetic variation can lead to attack by specific insects or disease, which could be extremely destructive.
- rare disease genes can be unknowingly selected as part of a positive trait, leading to problems with specific organisms, eg a high percentage of Dalmatian dogs are deaf.
What are 4 examples of selective breeding?
- cows that produce lots of milk.
- chickens that produce large eggs.
- wheat plants that produce lots of grain.
What are some of the negatives of artificial selection in breeding dogs?
Many domestic animals and plants are the result of centuries of selective breeding. Disadvantages include a reduction in genetic diversity and discomfort for animals that have very exaggerated characteristics.
How has natural selection affected dogs?
Both agree that natural selection favored wolves that were bold and friendly . They also agree that bold and aggressive wolves would be killed and therefore unable to breed. This allowed the bold and friendly dogs to breed, which was a key to the eventual evolution into dogs.
What animals have been artificially selected?
Artificial selection has long been used in agriculture to produce animals and crops with desirable traits. The meats sold today are the result of the selective breeding of chickens, cattle, sheep, and pigs . Many fruits and vegetables have been improved or even created through artificial selection.
Why is selective breeding bad?
Risks of selective breeding: reduced genetic variation can lead to attack by specific insects or disease , which could be extremely destructive. rare disease genes can be unknowingly selected as part of a positive trait, leading to problems with specific organisms, eg a high percentage of Dalmatian dogs are deaf.
What are the pros and cons of selective breeding?
Selective breeding is an extremely efficient way to good genetics in certain crops and livestock . However, if you are concerned about the cons of it, such as a genetic depression or discomfort to animals, the alternatives can be much worse, such as carrying out genetic modification.
What are the four things that are necessary for selective breeding to occur successfully?
Explain the four things that are necessary for selective breeding to occur successfully. There are four things that are required: variation, inheritance, selection, and time . Variations are differences that exist among individuals.
How long has selective breeding been used?
Selective breeding began about 10,000 years ago , after the end of the last Ice Age. Hunter-gatherers began to keep flocks and herds and to cultivate cereals and other plants.
How do farmers use selective breeding to increase milk?
An example of this can be seen in cows, as they can be bred to produce milk and meat. Farmers selectively breed different types of cows with highly desirable characteristics in order to produce the best meat and dairy. This means the farmers can make the most profit.
Is selective breeding ethical?
Genetic engineering and selective breeding appear to violate animal rights , because they involve manipulating animals for human ends as if the animals were nothing more than human property, rather than treating the animals as being of value in themselves.
