Question

How do natural and artificial selection differ? Give an example of each.

Answer 1

Natural selection is the process where the differential survival and reproduction of individuals due to differences in phenotype. It is a key mechanism of evolution in which the change in heritable traits characteristic of a population over generations. Whereas artificial selection is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to develop particular phenotypic characteristics selectively by choosing which typically animal or plant males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together.

Here is an easy example to understand the difference between them. Here we are explaining the ability of humans to digest cow's milk as an example for natural selection. In regions where cattle are not raised, the human population is often lactose intolerant and so that there is a lacking of the enzyme to break down the milk. However, in regions where cattle are grown domestically and their milk is used as a chief part of the food supply, those humans as a whole produce the enzyme needed to digest milk. Dog breeding is a perfect and good example for the artificial selection. Some other examples include the meats sold today are the result of the selective breeding of chickens, cattle, sheep, and pigs. Not only this many fruits and vegetables have been improved or even created through artificial selection. For example, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage were all derived from the wild mustard plant through selective breeding. This artificial selection is also used to humans because it is faster than natural selection and allows humans to mold organisms to their needs.