2/5 Problems with Selective Breeding

Selective breeding always involves humans choosing organisms that they like the best. What is NOT an example of a reason that humans choose an organism for selective breeding?

• Cows that produce more milk.

• Rabbits that blend in with their environment the best.

• Dogs with the softest fur.

• Horses that run the fastest in a race.

The dog breeder wants to help improve the genes of her next puppies. Even though she really wants puppies with really soft fur, which dog would be the best father for her new puppies?

Dog #1: soft fur, bone disease

Dog #2: soft fur, bone disease, eye disease

Dog #3: plain fur, no diseases

• dog #1

• dog #2

• dog #3

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What question does the farmer ask when trying to choose types of plants to breed together?

• Does each corn plant produce a lot of corn kernels to sell for money?

• Do the tomato plants grow well in the wild?

• Why do the orange plants only grow in a tropical environment?

• How long do the pecan trees need to grow?

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Farmers who grow animals must always be responsible and not choose traits that will hurt the animals. What would be a good question to ask a farmer about his cows?

• What do your cows eat?

• How do the cows survive in their environment?

• Do the cows have any pain in their legs from their large muscles?

• How fast do the cows run?

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Look at the picture of the wild mustard plant. What is the best way to explain all of the plants that are related to it now?

• Bees only pollinated plants with certain traits.

• Different types of dirt helped the plant grow differently.

• Humans chose mustard plants with certain traits to breed together.

• They are not related.

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Selective breeding has benefits to humans. There are also problems with it. Sort the items into "benefits" or "problems."

Groups:

(a) Benefits

,

(b) Problems

• grow crops to feed people

• organisms will not survive in their environment without people to help

• organisms may inherit diseases

• organisms may inherit problems with their body

• make money for farmers

• grow pets for people

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What is one of the main problems with selectively breeding dogs?

• Dogs will inherit a disease.

• Dogs will become too expensive.

• Dogs will bite their owners.

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What is the main characteristic of ALL selective breeding?

• Organisms with desired traits survive in the wild.

• Organisms with desired traits are chosen by humans.

• Organisms without desired traits die.

• Organisms are randomly chosen.

Another term for selective breeding is ​ (a)   . We say it is "​ (b)   " because when ​ (c)   choose organisms to reproduce, they do not choose ​ (d)   for survival. When plants and animals reproduce, they do it for "​ (e)   " reasons to help them survive.

• artificial selection
• artificial
• humans
• good traits
• natural

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