Genes: Mutations

Some selective breeders can increase genetic variation by creating mutations.  Mutations can occur spontaneously, but they can also occur with radiation and chemicals.  Many mutations are harmful, however breeders do this because they want desirable characteristics not found in the original population.  The small size of bacteria has been useful to radiate and poison all the organisms, therefore creating a higher chance of a mutation.  Oil-digesting bacteria has been mutated in laboratories.  Mutations are harmful and kill several organisms, but in the end a desired trait is achieved.  Mutations have also created polyploid plants.  Polyploid plants have many sets of chromosomes, they are usually fatal in animals.  Banana’s and some citrus fruits are polyploid.  I love banana’s!  This mutations was a good call.

Genes: Selective Breeding.

Humans have used science to produce variations of organisms.  This process is called selective breeding; the two types of selective breeding are hybridization and inbreeding.  Luther Burbank is a plant breeder known for being the greatest selective plant breeder of all time.  Burnamk used hybridization to cross different organisms together and use the best of the parent traits for the offspring.  Hybridization led to plants that had characteristics that increased food production.  Inbreeding is continued breeding of organisms with similar traits.  This is how dogs are kept pure breed and get a pedigreed certificate.  Selective breeders can use hybridization or inbreeding to create variations of organisms.