Question

Differentiate between natural selection and artificial selection. Does artificial selection influence natural selection?

Short answer

Natural selection is the process where individuals with certain heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the evolution of those traits in a population over time due to environmental pressures and genetic variation. Artificial selection, or selective breeding, is where humans choose specific traits in plants and animals and breed them to produce offspring with those desired traits. Artificial selection can influence natural selection by altering the gene pool of a population, but natural selection still occurs even when artificial selection is taking place.

Step-by-step solution

Define Natural Selection

Natural selection is the process whereby individuals with certain heritable traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the evolution of those traits in a population over time. This process leads to adaptation and speciation of organisms to their environment. Natural selection acts purely based on environmental pressures and genetic variation within a population.

Define Artificial Selection

Artificial selection, also known as selective breeding, is the process where humans actively choose specific traits in plants and animals and breed them to produce offspring with those desired traits. Through this selective breeding, humans can create new organisms with enhanced properties, such as larger fruits, more tender meat, or specific colors and patterns in animals.

Examples of Natural Selection and Artificial Selection

Natural selection can be observed in many instances in nature, such as the development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria or the variation in the beak sizes of Darwin's finches according to the availability of food sources. Examples of artificial selection include the breeding of various dog breeds with different physical and behavioral traits, or the development of disease-resistant crops in agriculture.

Influence of Artificial Selection on Natural Selection.

Artificial selection can influence natural selection. By altering the traits of a species through selective breeding, humans can change the gene pool of a population, and therefore, the genetic variation on which natural selection operates. This can sometimes lead to domesticated species being less adapted to their natural environment, as their traits have been bred for human utility rather than survival in the wild. However, it's important to note that natural selection is still occurring even when artificial selection is taking place, as the organisms are still subject to environmental pressures and changes that can influence their survival and reproduction. For example, even though humans have bred dogs for specific traits, natural selection still plays a role in shaping the traits that persist in wild dog populations. In conclusion, natural selection and artificial selection are both processes that shape the evolution of organisms and the traits they possess. While natural selection is solely driven by the environment and genetic variation within a population, artificial selection is guided by human intervention and choice. Artificial selection can indeed influence natural selection by altering the gene pool of a population, but natural selection still continues to occur even when artificial selection is taking place.