Artificial selection Facts for Kids

This mixed-breed Chihuahua and Great Dane show the range of dog sizes produced by artificial selection

Selective breeding transformed teosinte's few fruitcases (left) into modern corn's rows of exposed kernels (right)

Artificial selection is a way that humans choose which plants or animals will have babies. It's also called selective breeding. This method has been used for a very long time. It helps us get plants and animals with certain features we like.

When people use selective breeding, they pick animals like dogs, pigeons, or cattle that have special qualities. For example, a farmer might want cows that produce a lot of milk. So, they will only let the cows that give lots of milk have calves. This way, the good traits are passed on to the next generation.

What is Artificial Selection?
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What is Artificial Selection?

Artificial selection is all about humans deciding which animals or plants get to reproduce. It's like being a matchmaker for nature! People choose individuals with traits they want to see more of. Then, they breed those chosen individuals together. Over many generations, this process can lead to big changes. It helps create new breeds or varieties.

How Does it Work?

Imagine you want a dog that is very good at fetching. You would look for dogs that are already good at fetching. Then, you would breed those dogs together. Their puppies might also be good at fetching. If you keep doing this for many years, you can create a breed known for its fetching skills. This is how selective breeding works. It's a careful process of choosing parents to get desired traits in their offspring.

Sometimes, breeders might use a method called inbreeding. This means breeding animals that are closely related. The goal is to make a group of animals that are very similar genetically. However, this can sometimes cause problems. It can make the animals less healthy or less able to have babies. To avoid this, breeders often mix in new animals. This helps keep the group strong and healthy. This mixing is sometimes called hybrid vigour.

Examples of Artificial Selection

Artificial selection has shaped many of the plants and animals we see today. From our pets to the food we eat, humans have played a big role.

Dogs: Our Furry Friends

Think about all the different kinds of dogs. You have tiny Chihuahuas and giant Great Danes. They all came from wolves! Over thousands of years, humans selectively bred wolves. They chose wolves with traits like friendliness or good hunting skills. This led to the amazing variety of dog breeds we have now. Each breed was created for a specific purpose or look.

Corn: A Plant Makeover

Another great example is corn. Wild corn, called teosinte, looked very different from the corn we eat today. Teosinte had only a few small kernels covered in a hard shell. Early humans started picking and planting seeds from teosinte plants that had slightly bigger or easier-to-eat kernels. Over a very long time, this careful selection transformed teosinte. It became the large, juicy corn on the cob we know today.

Artificial vs. Natural Selection

The famous scientist Charles Darwin used artificial selection to explain his idea of natural selection. They are similar but also very different.

Artificial selection is when humans choose which plants or animals breed. We decide what traits are important.
Natural selection is when nature chooses. Animals or plants with traits that help them survive and reproduce better in their habitat are more likely to pass on their genes. This process helps living things fit better into their environment.

So, the main difference is who is doing the "choosing." In artificial selection, it's us. In natural selection, it's the environment.

Sometimes it's an Accident!

Not all artificial selection is planned. Sometimes, it happens by accident. For example, when early humans started farming, they might have unintentionally selected certain crops. They might have just planted the biggest or easiest-to-gather seeds. Over time, this still changed the plants, even if they didn't mean to "breed" them.

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A Belgian Blue cow. This breed has a special gene that makes its muscles grow very large.
Scientists at the USDA have bred carrots in many different colors.