Artificial Selection

Artificial selection has resulted in plants that are more disease-resistant, cows that produce more milk and racehorses that run faster. One must wonder what will come next. In the blog entry answer the following question – under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?

I want that dog!

The big dog with curly hair

Is that even possible?

Oh, so all I have to do is choose 2 dogs,

That has curly hair and is tall?

And then I can make one?

How cool is that!

What is this called?

Artificial selection…

Introduction:

The world that we once knew is now officially coming to an end. With various genetic modifications that are affecting the lives of all living creatures on the planet, it is impossible to imagine what the outcome would be. In my previous blog regarding designer babies there were circumstances that are morally unjust. Just when I thought that human involvement in the science of genetics could not possibly be any worse, I was proven wrong. What moral human being would find pleasure and satisfaction in modifying domestic animals for our personal views, or modifying plants to give them advanced characteristics for our own benefits? I strongly love and care for the safety and respect for all living things, and it baffles me as to how and why this process came to being.

Animals and plants are said to have changed over the past decades. Through evolution animals and plants have gained, or lost certain characteristics by adapting to their environment in order to remain alive. The theory of evolution is one of the greatest intellectual revolutions in human history, which drastically changes our perception of the world and our place in it. The popular scientist who first started the theory of evolution is Charles Darwin who is also the creator of the concept known as Natural Selection. Natural selection is the mechanism of evolution, the process in nature by which only the organisms that are best adapted to their environment tend to survive and transmit their genetic characteristics to the next generation. With this theory in mind, many scientists began to gain interest in the topic of evolution and how animals are able to gain and lose certain characteristics. Darwin believed that evolutionary change was slow and gradual but with the advances in genetic modification, we are now able to speed the process.

"…Natural selection acts only by taking advantage of slight successive variations; she can never take a great and sudden leap, but must advance by short and sure, though slow steps." – Charles Darwin

It seems that humans no longer find natural selection of use. It is not relevant to the genetic world today because of the advances that we have made since the theory of natural selection. Many people of the world now depend on ‘Artificial Selection’ for various purposes. The term artificial selection was utilized by Charles Darwin in contrast to natural selection. Artificial Selection is the modification of a species by human intervention so that certain desirable traits are represented in successive generations. The different breeds of domestic dogs and the large ears of maize corn are products of artificial selection. With humans becoming more and more dependent on artificially selected things such as food, the argument of the use of artificial selection becomes very controversial. Many of the foods that companies make are now created through the process of artificial selection. With this ability, food industries are able to create products faster, and improve crops and soil. Artificial selection may also be used to create entirely new organisms, for example the process of cross breeding in dogs. With these capabilities in mind, the question is under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?

Positive outcomes:

These new ways of creating different animals, plants and humans are very interesting. This is an example of the evolution of technology. The fact that humans are able to create what God himself has created, makes people doubt his existence. Artificial selection is a wonder to us all, and the things that are accomplished are extraordinary. It is through artificial selection that many animals these days are able to keep from extinction. Artificial selection gives these animals a few qualities that allow them to adapt to their environment in order to remain alive. Many species such as the prairie dog and the grizzly bear are endangered species that can possibly be saved through artificial selection.

Selective breeding allows people to obtain the desired characteristics in a plant or animal for industrial use. Agriculture will benefit from this process because through the genetic modification of many foods such as plants. These genetically modified substances may grow at a much faster rate, and have larger quantities. Examples of these agricultural benefits are the mutation of a cow to give it abnormal strength known as the ‘Belgian Blue Cattle’, improved nutritional quality, improved disease resistance, improved environmental tolerance and self pollinating crops. In all, it seems that artificial selection is probably the most unique, and helpful discovery of all.

The Belgian Blue Cattle

Negative outcomes:

I understand that this advancement in technology benefits us in many ways, but I highly doubt that artificial selection is a process that we can depend on forever. Many humans seem to be very taken with these new discoveries that no one questioned the possible negative outcomes. Artificial selection may be seen as inhumane and morally wrong by the processes that the plant or animal experiences through selective breeding. It has been said that artificial selection can possibly cause mutations or produce new problems. An example of this inhumane process is the new method of breeding chickens. Scientists are now producing chickens without feathers, the purpose of this does not concern me, but the problem is how the chicken will adapt to this environment without feathers. I have researched that the featherless chickens will suffer more as compared to normal birds. Without feathers, chickens may be unable to flap their wings, resulting in the inability to reproduce with females, and their ‘nakedness’ will make them exposed susceptible to parasites, mosquito attacks and sunburn.

Most people are unaware that artificial selection and selective breeding have the potential to change our ecosystem. With different and foreign creatures being made, the environment and other animals may be affected. We are unaware of the outcomes of artificial selection, but we can only assume. Scientists do not know if the artificially selected plant or animal will be parasitic to others. They do not think of the dangers that the unknown species could possibly possess. In my opinion artificial selection is related to genetic engineering. They are both processes through which you can choose the most desirable characteristics that you want your ‘product’ to have, and they are both wrong by means of religion and the moral value of life.

Conclusion:

I have come to the conclusion that artificial selection cannot be stopped, nor should it be continued. I believe that under the circumstance of the situation, selective breeding maybe be allowed, as long as there is no negative effects, or unjust processes. I think that the artificial selection of a plant or an animal should be viewed as positive only if it benefits the society in a good way. Judging by the rate at which our population is increasing, we need as much food as we can possibly harvest so we can feed the millions of hungry citizens in the world. Natural selection will be a benefit to us as long as it is used correctly. I have no objections to the use of this genetic modification, unless it corrupts the lives of other beings.

This video is quite interesting, it is the preview of the movie that has yet to be released known as Creation dedicated to the life of Charles Darwin. After viewing the preview, I would actually like to watch the movie, hopefully this gives you a suggestion for the course material for next year.

Sources:

http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_25

http://www.darwins-theory-of-evolution.com/

http://geneticsevolution.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_and_artificial_selection

http://www.helium.com/items/1735710-selective-breeding-gmo?page=2

http://www.hemmy.net/2007/07/16/belgian-blue-cattle-super-cow-aka-incredible-hulk-cow/