The science of selective breeding allows any living organism to be selectively bred so that the best characteristics or features can be sent along from generation to generation. This is a process that is actively seen in animals and plants today, but could also apply to humans as well. Plants can become bigger, animals can become leaner, and the ultimate outcome is to create better products along the food chain. In humans, it could mean living longer and removing genetic diseases.
Is selective breeding something that is ethical to do? Or is it a science that has natural limitations which should be avoided as often as possible?
What Are the Pros of Selective Breeding?
There is no company patent on the process of selective breeding.
Anyone who works in the agriculture industry can begin selective breeding whenever they want. It is a way for farmers to naturally earn more profits every year because they can breed specific characteristics into plants and animals to make them more productive over future generations.
There is no issue of safety with selective breeding.
Unlike GMO crops, selective breeding allows for the natural evolutionary process to take place. Evolution happens at an accelerated rate because of human manipulation, but the DNA sequences are not being manipulated to create changes like in genetic modifications.
It can provide a sustainable food chain.
With the world projected to hit a population mark of about 10 billion around the year 2050, it is more important than ever to begin planning a food chain system that allows for enough calories to be produced globally every year so that people can be effectively fed and hunger eliminated.
What Are the Cons of Selective Breeding?
It eliminates the variety of certain organism groups.
The goal of selective breeding is to create enhanced items, which ultimately means that variety is going to be sacrificed for productivity. This may create limited opportunities to continue the evolutionary expansion in the future because only positive traits would remain.
There is no control over genetic mutations.
Selective breeding might help to hasten the good traits of the evolutionary process, but it can do nothing about the bad traits. Random genetic mutations are going to happen and this will automatically reduce the effectiveness of the crops that are being grown since most mutations are not beneficial.
It could create a genetic depression.
As organisms begin to become genetically similar, they also begin to experience a depression in genetic diversity that can lead to an increase of negative mutations. Evidence is seen of this in human populations already, especially in the Cajun communities of Louisiana, Eastern European Jews, and some Old World population in the Northeastern United States.
Selective breeding can help make fruits taste better, vegetables grow bigger, and animals be healthier. By weighing the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding, we can come together to find a solution that will help the world be able to meet its needs now and into the future.
