Artificial selection, also known as selective breeding, involves breeding plants and animals for desirable traits. Inbreeding can lead to genetic defects. The process has resulted in the domestication of dogs and the development of different breeds, but can also cause health problems in animals. Charles Darwin used the term in his book, On the Origin of Species.
Artificial selection is a scientific term used to describe the breeding of plants and animals for desirable traits and not necessarily those that would enable offspring to survive better in the wild. It is also known as selective breeding and unnatural selection. The process can be considered the antithesis of natural selection.
The artificial selection process is relatively easy to implement. A specific plant or animal is chosen because it has a specific inheritable genetic trait that the breeder wants. The plant or animal is then bred to another of its kind with a similar trait, resulting in offspring with a higher potential to exhibit the specific trait. This cycle can be repeated with offspring until the specific trait is achieved to the desired level.
Inbred offspring is one of the potential dangers of artificial over-selection. Some traits are so rare that they may only exist in one or two family lines. If the trait is recessive, it may be necessary to pair two members of the same line (relatives) for the trait to be visible (expressed). In animals, this can cause genetic defects and other serious problems.
The results of artificial selection are easy to see. The domestication cycle of dogs (canines) bred by their owners to emphasize less aggressive traits has been going on for thousands of years and has resulted in hundreds of different breeds that look almost nothing like their gray wolf ancestors. Dairy cattle are being raised in hopes of producing more milk, but some lines are now suffering from increased infections and fertility problems. Persian cats bred for extremely flat faces often develop respiratory problems and may have difficulty eating. All of the listed traits that are bred do not help animals survive in the wild, but make them more desirable to their owners.
Charles Darwin used the term artificial selection twice in his book, On the Origin of Species. In the first reference, he wrote about the complex and beautiful things that he believes humans can create through the process. In the second reference, he used the term to describe the reasons for differences in animal breeds in countries with different levels of development. Darwin, however, did not clearly define the term in his book.
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