Why is it done?
There are many reasons as to why selective breeding is still practiced. Some are of the benefit of the organism being bred, sometimes just to human beings and, in some cases, both parties can be benefited. Some reasons for selective breeding are:
- Product quality improvement: This one is just for human benefit. This is when an organism from a species shows to possess some trait (i.e. better quality eggs, better fur, etc.). This particular organism is encouraged to breed as much as possible, or their sex cells may be taken for IVF or artificial insemination, so that offspring produced will hopefully possess the trait that results in better quality of product being produced.
- In an attempt to help an endangered species: In some cases, humans have attempted to keep a species from reaching dangerously low population levels through selective breeding. They find organisms within the population who are strongest and live in their environmental niche best, and breed them so that future generations will be able to survive and hopefully save the species from being wiped out.
- Protecting a species from bacteria, infection, etc.: As previously discussed in this website, sometimes benefits of selective breeding will almost completely assist only the organism being selectively bred. Such benefits are usually physical, such as strength, speed, agility or something smaller. An example of this is sheep being bred to have no tails, which protected them from faeces being caught in their wool and causing infection from bacteria. It is obviously arguable that this in turn benefits humans as the wool would be of greater quality.
- Product quality improvement: This one is just for human benefit. This is when an organism from a species shows to possess some trait (i.e. better quality eggs, better fur, etc.). This particular organism is encouraged to breed as much as possible, or their sex cells may be taken for IVF or artificial insemination, so that offspring produced will hopefully possess the trait that results in better quality of product being produced.
- In an attempt to help an endangered species: In some cases, humans have attempted to keep a species from reaching dangerously low population levels through selective breeding. They find organisms within the population who are strongest and live in their environmental niche best, and breed them so that future generations will be able to survive and hopefully save the species from being wiped out.
- Protecting a species from bacteria, infection, etc.: As previously discussed in this website, sometimes benefits of selective breeding will almost completely assist only the organism being selectively bred. Such benefits are usually physical, such as strength, speed, agility or something smaller. An example of this is sheep being bred to have no tails, which protected them from faeces being caught in their wool and causing infection from bacteria. It is obviously arguable that this in turn benefits humans as the wool would be of greater quality.
