Artificial Selection: Is it good or bad?

Artificial selection as described in the dictionary is said to be “a process in the breeding of animals and in the cultivation of plants by which the breeder chooses to perpetuate only those forms having certain desirable inheritable characteristics.”



Many phenotypes respond physiologically or developmentally to continuously distributed environmental variables such as temperature and nutritional quality. Phenotypic plasticity can be used to improve the efficiency of artificial selection. Since the quantitative genetic theory shows that ‘infinite-dimensional’ traits such as reaction norms provides a natural framework to accomplish this goal. It is expected to improve selection responses by making more efficient use of information about environmental effects than do conventional methods. The approach is illustrated by deriving an index for mass selection of a phenotypically plastic trait. This suggests that the same approach could be extended directly to more general and efficient breeding schemes, such as those based on general best linear neutral prediction.

Here's a brief background about Artificial Selection:

The term of artificial selection or selective breeding is in contrast with natural breeding, it was developed by Charles Darwin, who is also known and called as the 'Father of Genetics'. The deliberate exploitation of artificial selection has become very common in experimental biology, as well as the discovery and invention of new drugs. Artificial selection may also be unintentional or accidental because it is thought that domestication of crops by early humans was unintentional. Darwin included that 'many domesticated animals and plants had special properties that were developed by intentional animal and plant breeding from individuals that showed desirable characteristics, and discouraging the breeding of individuals with less desirable characteristics'.

The contrast to natural selection is that: Natural selection and artificial selection has no real difference in the generic processes, and this concept of artificial selection was used by Charles Darwin. The selection process of ‘artificial’ is when humans prefer or has been influenced to have a significant effect on the evolution of that particular species. Many evolutionary biologists have viewed this domestication as a type of natural selection and this adaptive change occurs as organisms that are brought under the control of human beings.

Every species on Earth has evolved, and would continue to evolve, through natural selection if left to their own devices, except for one - man. Man has taken species selection into his own hands and created all manner of closely related hybrids. Some of these may have eventually occurred in nature, while others most certainly would not. The practice of artificial selection removes the “survival of the fittest” law from the evolutionary process. But we can artificially breed animal or vegetable varieties that are unlikely to survive if left to fend for themselves, then artificially nurture and reproduce them. Where naturally selected species and hybrids grow and thrive with no human intervention, artificially selected varieties often require more intensive care to ensure they perform as they are expected to.




Now, let's ask ourselves, "Under what circumstances should humans be artificially selecting plants or animals?"

For me, I think we really shouldn't change the way how the animals should look like because God made them in a very beautiful living creature already. I think that some people would like to put a label to their pets or the things they own as "that's mine because I made them" Even when people has changed some features on that living creature, it would still not be enough to say that they have really created that being. In view of the fact that they have just added some extra features to make that living being more appealing to them, but they weren't the ones who really created that animal from scratch.

This topic really saddens me, since as I write these blogs about Designer Babies and Artificial Selection, it made me think how the world is very innovative about designing or putting their 'own touches' of what God has made for us. It saddens me to think that a lot of people are not content on what they see about another living being. And that's why more and more artificial selection is being done on different kinds of living creature.

Living creatures such as babies, animals and even plants shouldn't be taken for granted, because they are the one who keeps the world from evolving. These creatures whom we usually take advantage of are the one who gives us food and nutrients in our bodies to keep us alive. No matter how low or how high they are contributing to the world, we should keep them the way they are and not try to change or add anything for the better. Since sometimes what could be for the better could be for the worst.

But if they would make artificial selection for the benefit of everyone, I think artificial selection would be a good idea. Especially in making plants to have more supply of nutrients for our body.













Sources:
> http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/artificial+selection >http://www.absolutelyastronomy.com/topics/Artificial_selection
> http://www.jstor.org/pss/75455
> http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-artificial-selection.htm
> http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract;jsessionid=F4E0A5099FFB35AE8449CC9ACA321693.tomcat1?fromPage=online&aid=3791
> http://www.helium.com/items/1735710-selective-breeding-gmo

Future babies = Designer babies?!

What is a “designer baby” you may ask? A designer baby, according to the Oxford Dictionary is: "a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with InVitro Fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics." Designer babies are the advanced reproductive technologies that allow - mostly everyone to screen embryos for genetic disorders and select healthy embryos. This term is not used by scientists but is usually used by journalists and other Medias to describe the near future by selecting our children’s genes for a much desirable characteristics.

This advanced reproductive technique uses (IVF) InVitro Fertilisation – which is used to fertilize eggs with a sperm from a mother’s body that is put in test-tubes and is passed on to the laboratory. By doing this, this allows doctors and parents to reduce the child’s chance of having a genetic disorder. For now, there are only two types of advanced reproductive technologies on humans - the first one is choosing the type of sperm that will fertilize an egg (this is to determine the genes and the sex of the baby). The second one is called Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis or PGD which involves screening the embryos for genetic diseases that will only have selected embryos to be rooted back into the mother’s womb.

Recent scientists show much rapid advances that include human genome which is to modify and change genes. In the near future, we are more likely able to develop a cure to genetic diseases in embryos; but with the replacement of some sections of the DNA with a much healthier DNA. This is referred to as germ line therapy which is carried out on an egg, a sperm or a tiny fertilized embryo. This therapy has already been prepared on animal embryos but in the meantime, it stays illegal for humans. Although, another process called body cell gene therapy has been legal for human that has faulty genes in the cells of a child or an adult to cure diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Geneticists introduced us into mouse genome which is an additional copy of a gene such as the one known as NR2B, which is a type of glutamate receptor and is known to take part in the development of the brain. Recent techniques of genetic conversion introduce genes at random places in the genome. Many genes have more than one effect. These effects may be accompanied by others of which we become aware only in the future. A lot of the traits that we may want to add or select are usually influenced by multiple genes. A gene may affect intelligence only in combination with other genes.

Parents who use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to avoid passing on a disease to their child have a collection of embryos created for them by IVF or InVitro Fertilisation. These embryos are grown to the eight-cell stage, where one or two cells are isolated and checked for genetic variants that may be linked with the disease. Then after this, only embryos that lack these variants are introduced into the womb.

Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis or PGD is an expensive procedure that is typically offered to couples that is at risk of having a child suffer from a serious genetic disease. Though, it is said that it does not involve the genetic adaptation of human embryos and can avoid some of the risks – it is not entirely risk-free. Some people fear that the removal of one or two cells from the eight-cell embryos might have allegation for the well-being of people created by PGD. While others replied that the cells of the eight-cell embryos are totipotent, this means that they are undifferentiated and is capable of forming all the cells of the human body.

Another biotechnology is said to enable the selection of children’s characteristics – and this is known as cloning. Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer uses a somatic, otherwise body cell from the person to be cloned. The nucleus of this cell is introduced into an egg cell whose own nucleus has been apart. This results to a reconstructed embryo and is then introduced to the mother’s womb. But this way of making the designer babies will not attract parents who place an important value on a genetic connection with their child.

Even if we recognize how somatic cell nuclear transfer might make it possible for us to make designer babies, we are still not ready to create children by cloning. Since there are also major concerns about the health of clones; given that, animal clones suffer from a variety of problems that some scientists come in contact with, such as incomplete reprogramming of somatic cell DNA or the damage that was inflicted by the process of nuclear transfer. And this is not too far away that it might not also happen to a child that is cloned.

So, would you still consider cloning or designing your own babies?! The thought of it may sound a little exciting, since you get to choose what would be the color of thier eyes, hair, etc. And also, what characteristics may they get from their moms and dads. But do you really want to risk this chance of having a baby that is only cloned or made by technology. You may say yes, for now, but later on, you may realize the side effects of doing this. Why can't people be content with what they can only have? Yes, technology definitely makes a huge impact in our lives, but it is still up to us to make that impoartant decision. Even if they are provoking us to make this moves or desicions, we still have our own opinion and choices.

Now, let me leave you with this quote`s:

``It is interesting to note that everyone has a different take on the world, a different opinion - given the same inputs but have completely different outputs. ``
Penelope Fitzgerald

``Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.``
Marcus Aurelius

"A baby is God's opinion that life should go on."
Carl Sandberg

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for”
Unknown

Sources:
http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont1.htm

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html

http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2001/09/designer_babies.html

http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/bio/great-designer-baby-controversy-%E2%80%9909

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate/

http://www.choosebabygender.net/embryo-screening/option2.html

Are you being a good steward of the world?

As humans, it is our responsibility to take care of our planet Earth, so that we can conserve and live a long time here on Earth. By this, we need to value our biodiversity. To do this, we need to take care of all the living things that require the caring of a person – such as the animals and the plants and of course, our Mother Nature. By taking care of them, we are being good stewards of the world, since we are concerned of what could happen to our planet and also to what could be the solution if we don’t take care of them. We need to take consideration of the things that could happen in the future, such as global warming, that can affect everyone living here on Earth. We need to not only think about our own safety, but also the safety of others. For it is also our responsibility as Christians, to take care of one another as brothers and sisters. All of us have to work together to help save our planet so that there would be a place for future generations.

Having too much technology around us draws us away from focusing on helping to save our environment. That is why a lot of species are now endangered - and even us and our planet! Since a lot of innovative technology is being developed everyday, the more closer we get to ruining our planet and our home, Earth. Maybe that's why a lot of typhoons, earth quakes and a lot more environmental disaster comes along because we don't take much care of our environment. That is also why global warming started to exist, it's because of our own carelessness about our surroundings - that billions of people is dying from starvation - and again the cause of this is because we are focused on saving money for ourselves that we don't see the impact it is making on other people's lives.

(A video about how humans affect our planet resulting to Global Warming by NASA)

Human intervention has negatively affected the biodiversity of our ecosystems especially because a lot of animals are already extinct; and here are some of them: [Mammals] Arabian gazelle, Barbados rice-rat, Barbados raccoon, Black-footed ferret, Bulldog rat, Guam flying fox and a many more. [Birds] Auckland Island merganser, Bonin Wood pigeon, Canarian black oystercatcher, Crested Sheldrake, Kosrae crake, Wake Island rail. [Fish] Ash Meadows poolfish, Fera, Greasefish, New Zealand grayling, Snake River sucker and Yellowfin cutthroat trout. It’s so sad to think about all the animals that are now gone, and half of the reason why they’re gone is because of us. A lot of them, we didn’t even get too see, we just know them by name because of the sources that says that they existed. So it will be so sad, that in the future generations, we didn’t even get to see a dog. It’s so sad to think about all of the living things that are now extinct just because we didn’t think ahead – we thought that they would be here forever. So, now, it’s time for us – the present generation, to put a stop into this and help save and preserve them for the future generations to come. We can help, by most certainly - recycling things that could still be use again, and preserving some of light, energy and water. Some could even consider eating veggies that could be good in tow ways - one for your health and the other is helping save our planet.

By doing these things, we are being a good steward of the world and at the same time, helping our planet to be preserved for upcoming generations. So, let’s help each other to make a better place to live for everyone.

References:

http://www.astrobio.net/interview/343/genetic-engineering-and-human-intervention-part-iii

http://www.extinctanimal.com/default.htm

http://www.50waystohelp.com/

http://www.humanintervention.net/

http://www.jcie.org/researchpdfs/HumInterv/human_watanabe.pdf

http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199401--02.htm

http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/humanitarian-intervention.html

http://www.totlol.com/watch/rDYqlTsZfgw/Launchpad:-Global-Warming---How-Humans-Are-Affecting-Our-Planet/0/