Our human world is dominated by the advances of scientific and non-scientific discoveries. Artificial selection is something that existed from the dawn of time. Since time where homo-sapiens first learned to become farmers, we have attempted to selectively breed the better plant to produce the substrate that appeals us. Thus Artificial selection (or selective breeding) is the breeding of certain traits over other traits. Over time, the desired traits appear to be more common in animals. This breeding can be classified into two groups: intentional and un-intentional selection. Examples of intentional selection are found everywhere within our daily consumer lives. The foods from plants to animals, all show a trace or hint of artificial selection.
What happens when we accidentally, selectively breed an animal with a harmful mutation? ... All we can say is best of luck taking that mutation out (“mutations are almost impossible to remove”). Now what would happen if that was a major consumer product that is used in stores? Guess we will have a majority staying at home sick. Try taking this out and a lot of people loose profits. Bananas have limited gene pools and there is not much of a variety. The Cavendish bananas are the most commonly used on all of North America and the most common banana for exports. What happens when a mutation strikes that and we keep selectively breeding it? The mutated fruits are distributed throughout the globe and we get its effects, be it short term or long term.
An example of unintentional artificial selection is the selective breeding of the samurai crabs. Watch this:
TAKE AND EAT TO WHAT YOU MUST
By using artificial selection, we can evolve our life faster than by natural selection. It might take years for nature to evolve from the process of natural selection. We can hasten these effects or create new ones that will be better suited for tasks. A mule would be a perfect example of this selection. A mule is a mix between a female horse and a male donkey. A mule has the stamina of the horse and the strength of a donkey. Not entirely but most of it. This enables it to be perfect load carriers.
Their characteristics also show a mix of the two species and their abilities are used for many purposes. By selective breeding, we can also save many species from the verge of extinction. Human intervention is the cause of many endangered species and we must be the solution. By artificial selection we can boost the chances of their survival and possibly even ensure their survival. Many plants are artificially bred to make a wide variety of medicines that used in the markets today. Such a discovery has saved the lives of many, and should be continued. Artificial selection is a major advantage, only if used properly. A simple wild mustard plant was artificially bred to make all these other plants.
On the reverse side, artificial selection is also a barrier for evolution. In certain cases, when a desired trait is detected and is lusted to be bred over, Evolution loses its power. Therefore, the selectively bred species, loose its ability to evolve and get more resistant, whereas other bacteria/viruses keep evolving and ultimately wipe out the entire population of the species.
For example, chicken is selectively bred for their meat size. Therefore, fatter chickens give more profits to many organizations. These chickens are bred over and over again only selecting the required gene to make them fatter and juicier. They are also selected based on how well they lay eggs. Yet, there is a problem, the faster the eggs are laid by chickens, the more vitamin deficiency the egg will have. This will mean they have weak and brittle bones (calcium deficiency). Now imagine this: combine a fat chicken with a weak skeletal system. What is the result? They can barely walk, in fact their bones break. It’s still good for us to eat but where is the love for our animals?
Sound familiar? It might, because there are numerous movies out there that follow this kind of artificial selection. The most readily available example would be the movie Jurassic Park, as dinosaurs are selectively bred with artificially selected environment. See what happened when you introduce a specie that is no longer supposed to exist into this world? As we learned (or will learn); the introduction of an exotic species, can wipe out an entire population from competition. Like the dinosaurs completely dominating the feeble human race. Although it is possible to make a dinosaur with our current technology, only a crazy, filthy rich man would ever attempt this feat. In the end though, his dreams and work are all shattered and learned the horrible truth where dinosaurs are wild, untameable species.
Under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, of any?
A discovery or invention of a particular item was never intended to be used for wrong. Yet, we humans have a tendency to take more than necessary. As we misuse something given to us, other species, plants, animals and even ourselves are hurt. “Take and eat, to what you must” (Bible) not eat more than needed. Therefore, for anything that we do, we must draw a line, and that line must ensure that rights and freedoms of all living things are protected. Therefore, we must only be using artificial selection, when no other animals or species are hurt whether the effects are long term or short term. We are called to be the caretakers not the destroyers, we are given out human brain to protect God’s gift, not use our cerebrum to spoon nature’s creations. This doesn’t mean we have to entirely stop artificial selection or selective breeding, but just be aware on what areas we pry upon.
SOURCES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVSJNhUhV-4
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm
www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-cavendish-banana.htm
www.physorg.com/news5802.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15919994
www.nature.com/nature/journal/v263/n5575/abs/263317a0.html
www.jstor.org/stable/50344
No comments:
Post a Comment