Artificial Selection. People (instead of nature) select which organisms get to reproduce and which traits have a better chance of being passed on No longer.

Artificial Selection

Artificial Selection

•People (instead of nature) select which organisms get to reproduce and which traits have a better chance of being passed on•No longer matters what is

“most fit”

Purpose of artificial selection

•Higher yield of offspring in plants• Improved quality•Reduced production costs• Faster growth rates•Greater resistance to diseases•Cosmetic•Hypoallergenic

Who participates in artificial selection?

• Farmers• All crops

•Breeders• Farm animals• Dogs• Horses

• Scientists

Why is artificial selection often referred to as selective breeding?

Examples of artificial selection

How has corn changed over the years? Why is this beneficial?

Examples of artificial selection• Dogs• Originally domesticated for hunting, shepherding, and pest

control. • Eventually became companion animals

Examples of artificial selection

• Horses• Draft horses• Racehorses

Genetic Modification / Genetic Engineering

-Genetic engineering techniques are used to alter DNA

-DNA is altered and combined with other DNA to create an entirely new set of genes

-Creates genetically modified organisms (GMO’s)- Occurs everywhere

- 85% of US corn and 91% of US soybeans are genetically engineered

Artificial Selection versus Genetic Modification

•Which one is more effective?•Genetic Modification/Engineering•Quicker•More Effective•No limitations

Why are people who support artificial selection often against

genetic engineering?

Weird examples of genetic engineering

• For each of the examples try to answer the following questions•Do you support the example?• Should we continue to genetically engineer

organisms?

Glow in the Dark Cats

Pollution-Fighting Plants

Venomous Cabbage

Web-spinning goats

Fast-growing salmon

Flavr Savr Tomato

Banana Vaccines

Less-flatulent Cows

Fast Growing Trees

Medicinal Eggs

Super Carbon-Capturing Plants

Genetic Modification of Humans

• Should we allow it?• What specifically should we

allow?• Where is the limit? How

much is too much?