The science behind plastic surge--oh I mean Artificial Selection.

Ah, nature... the biggest shopping mall ever created. That's right; A SHOPPING MALL. How? Think of EVERYTHING in we see as being able to be selected, kind of like "off the shelf" products. You just pick which ingredients you want and what you don't want and then you go home and make some weird concoction of your own; your own little twisted original creation or invention. Well, that's how the world works. Well, at least in majority of the aspects. It's kind of our fault. Correction, IT IS OUR FAULT.

Haha, I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Not exactly saying it's a good thing either. In an artificial selection debate, I'm caught right in the middle. It has its pros and cons, you know?

HOW CAN YOU NOT LAUGH OUT LOUD AT THIS?!

Under specific circumstances, artificial selection is good for us. Take a look at the wild mustard plant:

From just one plant, we have made a variety of healthy green vegetables for ourselves, ranging from broccoli (not my personal favourite), cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. These vegetables were created out of artificial selection and now prove to be healthy for our digestive and overall health.







And also take a look at dogs:

Pure bred dogs are actually different versions of their ancestor, the wolf. Each species of dog has specific alleles and traits that were isolated and selected to make their desired characteristic. Like any fashion show, the contestants are...FAKE! (HAHAHA)



Now turn your attention away from the good and let's face the BAD (it sucks but it's the truth).

Ever heard of variation? This is the science behind why each one of us look unique. Our genetic make-up is not exactly the same as everyone else. It is because of variation that we are able to survive specific conditions, look in a specific way, or do specific actions. How is this related to artificial selection? Let me explain...

In animals, only the same species can mate with one another. If they mate with other species, then there is a high possibility that their offspring will not live long or not live at all.
Different species of dogs, for example, are caused by artificial selection. Different species such as collies, poodles, retrievers, etc. can only have offspring with a mate of the same species. But the problem with dogs of the same species is that they can only have offspring that have the same genetic make-up, then that means that the resulting puppies are not special. They have the same resistances and strengths as their parents. They are restricted to those abilities. They will not be able to survive different disasters or become immune to different diseases. Variation is not achieved.

The bottom line:

Artificial selection can have its good and bad sides. It just depends on how we look at it and how we use it; just as long as we take the effects and consequences into consideration.

You have been warned...

SOURCES:

http://www.freethunk.net/weeklies/2007-may-20-artificial-selection.gif
http://campus.udayton.edu/~INSS/Dillon230/WebUNIT-III/2ArtificialSelection-cabbage_files/image002.gif
http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evosite/lines/images/le_dogs2.gif

http://www.biology-online.org/2/13_genetic_engineering.htm