Preface: 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 this blog entry, answer the following question: under what circumstances, if any, should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals, if any?
Background, or "You're telling me the key to evolution is ROCKS?"
Before tackling this rather heavy subject, you must understand artificial selection as well as natural selection. How will I explain these two concepts? That's right ladies and gentlemen, another analogy is coming up; this one will probably be easier to recognize.
Pokémon (for pronunciation purposes, see this amusing YouTube clip or, alternatively, this version) is an enormous, multimedia franchise that is veered towards entertaining children. For those of you who have not played the game, this is it in a nutshell:
- You, the trainer, must capture and secure monsters known as Pokémon, which is short for Pocket Monsters. OPTIONAL: Give them ridiculous and sometimes offensive names that make you giggle inside
- Be a loving and caring guardian, raising your Pokémon with respect and dignity. OPTIONAL: Raising your Pokémon with respect and dignity.
- Pit your Pokémon against others in battles to the death. OPTIONAL: Surviving.
- ???
- PROFIT!!!
Point #2 is the one that relates to evolution. Pokémon have the ability to evolve during the course of the game. They adapt to their circumstances, becoming stronger, faster and generally more cool looking. However, this may occur in one of two ways, which are described below.
Naturally, after hours and hours of dedicated training, Pokémon may evolve into a more advanced organism. After fighting so many battles, Pokémon alter themselves so that they may better compete and conquer others. This kind of evolution is unpredictable and usually takes place over an extended period of time. The changes that occur benefit the Pokémon greatly, granting them new capabilties and increasing their survivability.
Some Pokémon however, regardless of how many beatings they have under their belt, will not evolve on their own. In certain circumstances, a trainer may force evolution with special stones. Stones vary depending on the needs of the trainer/Pokémon (i.e. a Water Stone will allow a Pokémon to evolve into a form which can swim/swim better). In this way, a trainer may select for the traits which he desires in his companion.
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Natural Selection is very much like the first type of evolution because the organism itself desires the adaptation. If the Pokémon does not feel they need to evolve, they may remain as they are. Should characteristics such as heightened strength or greater agility arise however, Pokémon change accordingly.
Artificial Selection, whether it be by stones or otherwise, is evolution that is brought upon the organism depending on the wants/needs of a ruling body. An exterior element interferes with the organism in a way that dictates how it will change. For example, in the above picture, a Pokémon by the name of Eevee (a clever play on the words "Ev"olution) is a monster which does not naturally evolve. With the help of various stones, Eevee may become aquatically apt as a Vaporeon, conduct electricity as a Jolteon, or gain the ability to withstand and produce intense flames as a Flareon. The choice ultimately rests in the hands of the trainer and the role the trainer wishes for Eevee to play.
As one can guess, artificial selection is quite a questionable process.
The Good, or "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger... Sooner."
Why is artificial selection commonplace in today's world?
The answer is simple: efficiency.
Evolution takes a while. A LONG while. Seeing as how the average human lives approximately 70 years, scientists cannot afford to waste time waiting for changes to occur naturally. Many of the advances made in the field of genetics were discovered due to artificial selection (i.e. Gregor Mendel and his ever so cherished pea plants). These findings, in turn, helped scientists better understand life and living organisms better. Artificial selection is used in this way for the purpose of research.
However, what other reason is there for artificial selection? The second incentive to utlizing artificial selection is consumerism and commerce.
Consider the status of the chicken as a profitable cattle animal. Chickens that can lay more eggs or grow large faster are beneficial to a business. Due to the demand for meat and eggs, chickens are bred to grow to gigantic sizes and produce eggs at alarming rates.
In both these examples, artificial selection creates multiple benefits. However, one must understand that the organism that reaps the most reward from tampering with evolution is man.
The Bad, or "With the added bonus of arthritis at NO EXTRA CHARGE!"
One of the negative points of artificial selection is that certain traits that may cause various issues are carried along with those desired. This was visited in the Unit 8 video
Canine Hip Dysplasia, or CHD for short, is a malformation in the hip joint that impairs a dog's ability to move. Damage to cartilage caused by this malady sometimes leaves dogs fully disabled and/or in need of a walking aid. This trait is usually gained by means of genetic inheritance and is commonly found amongst German Shepards, Retrievers, and other above average sized dogs. Under natural circumstances, selection would have erased this gene entirely. However, due to breeding and breeding practices, it remains within the canine gene pool.The previously visited case with chickens also holds a dark side as well. At the cost of producing more eggs or bearing more meat, most chickens experience numerous health issues. Most egg-laying hens have a deficiency for calcium (as it is processed to create egg shells) and therefore have brittle bones. On the other hand, broiler chickens, those bred for size, become so overburdened with excess meat that their legs cannot support their weight. Both maladies result in chickens that are unable to move.
Though having a thoroughbred dog/meaty chicken may seem quite prestigious/profitable, is it really worth risking the health of the dog/chicken as well? Allowing such genes and others like them to prosper essentially sets animals down a long path of pain and suffering. This is a heavy consequence to desiring certain traits of fur and so factors heavily in the dispute over artificial selection.
Artificial selection can also occur unconsciously. Human actions not meant to alter evolution have also caused selection in the world. One example of this is the Heike crab.
The Heikegani, a In this situation and many others, artificial selections occurs inadvertently. I brought this to your attention to demonstrate that human interaction with the world, no matter how small, can result in artificial selection. The influence of man encompasses so much that stopping artificially selection is near impossible.
The Conclusion, or "Connecting to prior knowledge."
This question brought forth on artificial selection is very much related to the previous blog that concerned Designer Babies. The same concept of choosing for genes and the perfect offspring applies here, except the organisms in question are animals rather than humans. Due to this, the new moral dilemma at hand here is our roles as stewards to the world and its inhabitants (again, a throwback to another blog). Seeing as how both previous subjects relate to the one at hand, the conclusion here is a mixture of its predecessors.
Artificial selection has both positive and negative outcomes; this is a fact. However, it should not be utilized for personal gain or at the expense of the organism's health/survival. To enhance one's own offspring is seen as immoral, so one can assume that tampering with the child of another being is even more so. Furthermore, to put another organism at risk could possibly affect the biodiversity of various creatures, including ourselves.
Not much more can be said on the subject that was not already said in previous blogs. It is very much within the power of man to control evolution. However, It is also our responsibility to understand the morality of the situation and make a reasonable decision on the matter.
Not much more can be said on the subject that was not already said in previous blogs. It is very much within the power of man to control evolution. However, It is also our responsibility to understand the morality of the situation and make a reasonable decision on the matter.
The Closing, or "I'll do it because I want to, not because I'm bred to."
"The man who lets a leader prescribe his course is a wreck being towed to the scrap heap." - Ayn Rand, Philosopher and Author
This was quite a "bleh" topic. Not much to write that is new material. I apologize if this read like an overly repeated news headline Deviating from my previous stance on artificial selection would have made me seem like a hypocrite. Animals have an equal right to an undisturbed life as any individual human. We are not greater than or less than the organisms around us; humans are simply another part of the web of life.
Next time I'll have something more intriguing, I promise.
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