What is the difference between natural and artificial selection?
Natural and artificial selection are two different processes of evolution that occur in
biological populations. Natural selection is a natural process by which certain traits
that are advantageous for an organism in a given environment become more
common over time. As a result, organisms that possess those traits are more likely
to survive and reproduce successfully, passing down those traits to future
generations.
On the other hand, artificial selection is the deliberate selection of certain features by
humans in order to breed a certain trait within organisms in commercial or
agricultural settings. For example, humans historically have selectively bred dogs for
specific traits, such as herding or hunting abilities. In agriculture, plants and animals
are often selectively bred for desirable characteristics such as disease resistance,
size, and yield.
One of the key differences between natural and artificial selection is that natural
selection is driven by the environment and survival, whereas artificial selection is
driven solely by human preferences or goals. Natural selection occurs over long
periods of time and is typically not as rapid as artificial selection, which can occur
over a few generations.
In summary, natural selection is a non-intentional mechanism of evolution driven by
the environment, whereas artificial selection is intentional and focused on breeding
specific traits desired by humans.
References:
1. Futuyma, D. J., & Kirkpatrick, M. (2017). Evolution. Sinauer Associates.
2. Darwin, C. (1859). On the origin of species by means of natural selection. John Murray.