User:Jhmend

Artificial selection is close to the concept of natural selection, except that the evolution that occurs is “forced.” In natural selection, there is adaptation. An example of this adaptation is a bald eagle’s very strong and curved beak that allows it to tear apart the meat of its prey, or a curlew’s low, curved, and pointed beak that allows it to grab small crustaceans from sand, soil, or mud. However, in artificial selection, this formation of traits or characteristics that are necessary for an organism to survive are created artificially, and mostly by humans.

Examples
Any domesticated animal is a form of artificial selection. A domestic cat (Felis catus) was not always a house-pet; the species was created out of artificial selection by humans from a species of cat, African wildcats (Felis silvestris lybica), similar to it so that cats could be a household animal. Dog breeding is also a form of artificial selection the same way that the emergence of domestic cats is. It can be read about in Selective Breeding.

Relation to Theory of Evolution
The four “straightforward observations” given by Darwin that give us the Theory of Evolution are: From these observations, the conclusion of evolution is apparent, but artificial selection can also have these outcomes. Artificial selection will change the “life” of a species to appear different (whether it is through fossils or appearance in general) the same way that natural selection would. If done correctly or for improvement, it enables a species to become better at what they do. For example, crops that undergo breeding can grow larger and with less risk of dying before they can be harvested. This domestication of crops is an example of humans using artificial selection to inhibit growth or improve a plant species. Also, artificial selection still allows for organisms to “multiply in number.” A Labrador and a standard poodle can breed to form a Labradoodle – this species can now multiply in number itself. Finally, children’s resembling their parents is also an effect of artificial selection as it is of natural selection. Again, in the example of the Labradoodle, the child exhibits many similar traits from both parents that combine to form a breed that is a combination of both. If this had been done in order to improve a species, the best traits from the Labrador and the best traits from the poodle would be taken and combined to form a breed that only exhibits the “best” traits of its parents.
 * 1) Fossil records show that life used to be different
 * 2) Organisms are good at what they do
 * 3) Organisms multiply in number
 * 4) Children tend to resemble their parents

Eugenics
However, humans have not only attempted artificial selection on only plant and animal species, as Darwin’s theory suggested. Eugenics, while it is a highly controversial idea and theory, was the beginning of artificial selection in humans. Created by Francis Galton, eugenics “improves humans” through use of “genetic screening, birth control, promoting differential birth rates, marriage restrictions, segregation, compulsory sterilization, forced abortions or pregnancies, and genocide." One of the most famous examples of eugenics is the genocide and mass genetic screenings that occurred during Adolf Hitler’s reign over Germany during the Second World War. The idea here was that by eliminating every person that was not considered part of the Arian race of blond-haired and blue-eyed humans, a “pure” Arian race could be created. The other form of eugenics that occurred during this time was the scientific experiments on innocent people to find ways to alter humans in order to improve the species. To do this, much sterilization occurred.

However, eugenics has been seen as a positive idea that was put in a bad light by Hitler’s crimes. The contrasting opinions lend themselves to the large controversy that is eugenics.