Week 4: Natural vs. Artificial Selection
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Natural selection is described as “the process by which forms of life having traits that better enable them to adapt to specific environmental pressures, as predators, changes in climate, or competition for food or mates, will tend to survive and reproduce in greater numbers than others of their kind, thus ensuring the perpetuation of those favorable traits in succeeding generations.” (dictionary.com)
Artificial selection, on the other hand is described as “the identification by humans of desirable traits in plants and animals, and the steps taken to enhance and perpetuate those traits in future generations. Artificial selection works the same way as natural selection, except that with natural selection it is nature, not human interference, that makes these decisions.” (nationalgeographic.com)
The underlined part of the definition above made me want to discuss these terms with you. Considering that climate change is a human-induced phenomenon, where do we draw the line on what is natural and what is artificial selection? Are the adaptations occurring due to climate change part of artificial selection, meaning that genes are adapting according to human-induced favorable traits? Or are they still part of natural selection as long as they are occurring in nature and not in a lab?
