For Professor Francis

SC 1040 week 5 discussion

Discuss the following:

In nature, genetic variation is of utmost importance to ensure survival of the species.

Human beings, however, often contribute to a decline in this variation unintentionally by

our actions. For example, there are hundreds of rice species on Earth, but the majority of the

human population worldwide (all 7 billion of us!) only consumes about ten of these rice

varieties on a regular basis.

This is a form of selective evolutionary pressure. Because the human race generally only

plants and cares for the ten desirable rice varieties and basically ignores the rest, the other

hundreds of rice varieties get edged out in most places suitable for the growth of rice.

Question: Can you think of other situations where we practice similar selective behaviors,

favoring certain traits and characteristics in the foods we eat and the animals we raise

(either as pets or otherwise)?