When I first started reading about this topic, I immediately remembered the previous blog about “designer babies” when I expressed how strongly my opinion was against the idea of manipulating genes for personal purposes whether it be medical or cosmetic. Artificial selection and designer babies are similar in many ways. Artificial selection can be defined as: “selection for reproductive success in plants and animals that is directed by humans.” Similarly, we can define designing babies as: “selection for reproductive success in humans that is directed by humans.” The main difference that I could think of was that a designer baby refers to humans, while artificial selection refers to plants and animals. This brings up the moral question of if humans are truly superior to plans and/or animals. In other words, is it okay if humans alter the genetic make up of animals, but then morally wrong when they alter their own genes? Taking all of this into consideration, I think that humans are no superior, meaning that altering the genes of plants and animals are just as ethically wrong as altering the genes of humans, and should not occur under any circumstances.
Aside from the fact that artificial selection is ethically wrong and should not occur under any circumstances in my opinion, I must mention how I do see the significance behind it. Due to artificial selection, we have been able to breed desired characteristics for preferred plants and animals. More specifically, humans have been able to use this breakthrough for a variety of purposes such as faster race horses, better milk production in cows, and have even been able to create broccoli, cabbage, kale, and other vegetables through the artificial selection of the wild mustard plant. For these reasons, I must acknowledge how big of a breakthrough this is in science. Humans are now able to get their preferred characteristics in plants and animals, which would have never been able to happen prior. This however, doesn’t make it right. We are now able to produce plants and animals with the traits we want through artificial selection, but at what cost?
Artificial selection directly contrasts natural selection when natural forces cause the population to change. Instead of letting nature take its course, humans are forcing desired traits and are altering populations artificially through artificial selection. This in my opinion is what makes artificial selection terribly wrong. Humans are taking advantage of science, and making the world we live in artificial. We are always told avoid eating and drinking foods with artificial flavour, coloring, etc... So why do we all of a sudden think it’s acceptable to be producing nature of all things artificially?
Aside from the fact that artificial selection is ethically wrong and should not occur under any circumstances in my opinion, I must mention how I do see the significance behind it. Due to artificial selection, we have been able to breed desired characteristics for preferred plants and animals. More specifically, humans have been able to use this breakthrough for a variety of purposes such as faster race horses, better milk production in cows, and have even been able to create broccoli, cabbage, kale, and other vegetables through the artificial selection of the wild mustard plant. For these reasons, I must acknowledge how big of a breakthrough this is in science. Humans are now able to get their preferred characteristics in plants and animals, which would have never been able to happen prior. This however, doesn’t make it right. We are now able to produce plants and animals with the traits we want through artificial selection, but at what cost?
Artificial selection directly contrasts natural selection when natural forces cause the population to change. Instead of letting nature take its course, humans are forcing desired traits and are altering populations artificially through artificial selection. This in my opinion is what makes artificial selection terribly wrong. Humans are taking advantage of science, and making the world we live in artificial. We are always told avoid eating and drinking foods with artificial flavour, coloring, etc... So why do we all of a sudden think it’s acceptable to be producing nature of all things artificially?
Let’s face the reality of a world we live in. We have artificial everything. Artificial food, artificial grass, artificial hair, artificial sweeteners, artificial teeth, and more. Why can’t we just accept what we were given and live a N A T U R A L life? Through artificial selection, we are actually taking one of the few natural things that we have left on this planet and making it artificial, just like everything else.
After learning a lot about evolution, I’ve realized how it benefits various species in many ways. For example, through evolution, species can naturally evolve to be more resistant to pray, disease etc..., therefore increasing the survival of succeeding generations. If humans continue to artificially modify plants and animals how will we ever allow them to naturally evolve for better survival? For example, instead of manufacturing plants that are more disease-resistant, let nature take its course and let survival of the fittest come into effect. If plants that are not disease-resistant die by their own means, eventually they will naturally come up with a gene that makes them resistant, and future generations will be completely resistant. See where I'm going with this?
To be completely honest, artificial selection is just a shortcut for us humans. It's just another excuse to be lazy and to cheat Mother Nature. Instead of waiting for nature to take its course, humans are rushing a what used to be a natural process. For example, instead of training racehorses to run faster, we modify them so they are born to do so. Who knows, with everything from mad cow disease to swine flu , it makes you think whether these could have been avoided if humans just learned how to patiently wait to evolve into better and more resistant species. When you’re sick, it is suggested to eat healthy, drink water, and get a lot of sleep.. NOT to just alter your genes so your children won’t ever get the flu.
CONCLUSION
Much like designer babies, we have to realize that we are taking advantage of magnificent scientific breakthroughs and using them for our own selfish and impatient purposes. By doing this, we are only hurting ourselves. Instead of letting plants and animals evolve naturally, we are forcing evolution on them which is wrong on so many levels. If God or Mother Nature, depending on what you like to think.. wanted things this easy, something would have been done about it. Humans should just learn how to take pride in nature and accept that everything is how it is for a reason. Instead of forcing artificial characteristics, on nature, we should let them evolve on their own time.
Let's face the reality shall we. Humans are just impatient. STOP trying to speed up natural processes, and justifying it with impressive scientific breakthroughs. That doesn't make it any more excuseable. As my mother always told me: "Patience is a virtue, a virtue is a grace, Grace is a little girl who never washed her face". Irrelevant? Don't think so. I encourage you to be patient with nature and take time and smell the n a t u r a l l y roses. What's the rush?
Resources:
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072549238/student_view0/glossary.html
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution/dog_breeding.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session5/closer1.html
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution/dog_breeding.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session5/closer1.html
Pictures:
http://www.watchmojo.com/blog/health/tag/flu/http://www.zedge.net/profile/SWEET_HINA/
http://themovementdallas.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/are-artificial-sweeteners-safe/
