How Artificial Selection Works With Animals

How Artificial Selection Works With Animals Artificial selection involves mating two individuals within a species that have the traits desired for the offspring. Unlike natural selection, artificial selection isnt random and is controlled by the desires of humans. Animals, both domesticated and wild animals now in captivity, are often subjected to artificial selection by humans to get the ideal animal in looks, demeanor, or other desired characteristics. Darwin and Artificial Selection Artificial selection isnt a new practice. Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, used artificial selection to help bolster his work as he came up with the idea of natural selection and the Theory of Evolution. After traveling on the HMS Beagle to South America and, perhaps most notably, the Galapagos Islands, where he observed finches with differently shaped beaks, Darwin wanted to see if he could reproduce this type of change in captivity. Upon his return to England, Darwin bred birds. Through artificial selection over several generations, Darwin was able to create offspring with desired traits by mating parents that possessed those traits. Artificial selection in birds could include color, beak shape and length, size, and more. Benefits of Artificial Selection Artificial selection in animals can be a profitable endeavor. For instance, many owners and trainers will pay top dollar for racehorses with particular pedigrees. Champion racehorses, after they retire, are often used to breed the next generation of winners. Musculature, size, and even bone structure can be passed down from parent to offspring. If two parents can be found with the desired racehorse characteristics, theres an even greater chance that the offspring will also have the championship traits that owners and trainers desire. A common example of artificial selection in animals is dog breeding. As with racehorses, particular traits are desirable in different breeds of dogs that compete in dog shows. The judges look at coat coloring and patterns, behavior, and even teeth. While behaviors can be trained, there is also evidence that some behavioral traits are passed down genetically. Even among dogs not entered in shows, certain breeds have become more popular. Newer hybrids such as the Labradoodle, a mix between a Labrador retriever and a poodle, and the puggle, which comes from breeding a pug and a beagle, are in high demand. Most people who like these hybrids enjoy the uniqueness and the look of the new breeds. Breeders choose the parents based on traits they feel will be favorable in the offspring. Artificial Selection in Research Artificial selection in animals also can be used for research. Many labs use rodents such as mice and rats to perform tests that arent ready for human trials. Sometimes the research involves breeding mice to get the trait or gene to be studied in the offspring. Conversely, some labs research the lack of certain genes. In that case, mice without those genes are bred to produce offspring lacking that gene so they can be studied. Any domesticated animal or animal in captivity can undergo artificial selection. From cats to pandas to tropical fish, artificial selection in animals can mean the continuation of an endangered species, a new type of companion animal, or a lovely new animal to look at. While these traits may never come about through natural selection, they are achievable through breeding programs. As long as humans have preferences, there will be an artificial selection in animals to make sure those preferences are met.

Arm Wrestling with my Father Essays

Arm Wrestling with my Father Essays Arm Wrestling with my Father Paper Arm Wrestling with my Father Paper Journal 5: Arm Wrestling with My Father Brad Manning always lost the arm wrestling matches against his father when he was young. Their communication was mainly physical. His father never showed up at his musical concerts, helped him with school work, or wrote him letters or cards, but he always critical of him at his sporting events. His dad showed the love for his son through hand-shakes and pats on the back instead of hugs. The word love was never poke between them. As Brad grew older and more mature, he realized that his father was not as strong as he once was. The competition between them wasnt there as much either. Once, during an exam break, he came home and arm wrestled again with his dad. During the match, when Brad realized he was about to beat his father, he learned that their relationship was changing. Brad wanted things to stay the same as when he was small; however, as things happen, he was growing, his father was getting older, and time couldnt stand still. At the end of the story as he goes back to college his father hugs him. Brad realized that his father was using this as a totally different way of saying, l love you. I feel like this story was written about my dad and me. Identical to their relationship, my dad and I have a physical relationship. We wrestle, play basketball, fish, hunt, and hang out together. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike, to shoot a gun, to drive a car. My dad says l love you on occasion, but usually, only if I say it first. Unlike Brad though, my dad has always been supportive in whatever I have done, even if it isnt sports related. He comes to my guitar concerts and my church plays. Whatever Im doing, I can count on him to be there. I love my dad and even though I didnt always feel his love, I now know that his love is Just as strong as my mothers, but its Just different. I also know that our relationship will one day change as Brad and his fathers did. There will come a day when I will be taking care of him as he has always taken care of me.

Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States Essay

Disparities and access to healthy food in the United States - Essay Example Only 81% are able to eat the kinds of foods they want but majority also have to travel a far distance to reach the grocery stores of supermarkets (Larson, Story and Nelson, 2009). Research indicates that 8% of African Americans lack access to food while only 41% of the whites have access to food (U.S Department of Agriculture, 2009). The problem as indicated above is caused by food deserts. The other cause for these statistics are the fact that the supermarkets and groceries are not stocked with the kind of food people want and hence they end up not purchasing anything or just enough to eliminate their hunger but not get satisfied. Lastly is the main reason which is the socio-economic status of people. People fail to access food not because it is unavailable but simply because they cannot afford it. The healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are expensive and hence they rely on unhealthy risking diseases. Over 46% of low income neighbors have limited household access to healthy foods dues to their high prices (Larson, Story and Nelson, 2009). When there is food desert in any neighborhood, the only people who will be able to purchase the desired and affordable food are those with readily available transportation and money for the food which means those in middle and high level of socio-economic status. Transportation in the rural areas is hard to come by and hence they lack access to healthy food. Majority of the city dwellers also face similar problem as their neighborhoods are filled with convenience stores and fast food joints and very few, sparsely spaced supermarkets and grocery stores. This translates to people within that neighborhood eating unhealthy foods majority of the time. The lack of access to healthy foods due to lack of access to supermarkets and grocery stores as well as the disparity in healthy food as a result of affordability calls for a policy to improve these low statistics if the US citizens are to start being healthy people and