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In the Light of Evolution Volume III: Two Centuries of Darwin (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Part II: ARTIFICIAL SELECTION, OR ADAPTATION TO HUMAN DEMANDS
Pages 85-88

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From page 85...
... in chapter 1 of The Origin, Darwin lamented that "We hardly know anything about the origin or history of our domestic breeds"; and "The origin of most of our domestic animals will probably for ever remain vague." Darwin would therefore be both pleased and surprised by recent scientific progress in deciphering the evolutionary origins of many domesticated plant and animal species. Much of this evidence has come from molecular genetic and phylogenetic analyses of domesticated breeds vis-à-vis their wild ancestors.
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From page 86...
... The evolutionary transformation from teosinte to maize ranks among the most impressive of all feats of artificial selection. For example, teosinte lacks a cob-like inflorescence and instead produces only 6–12 kernels in two rows protected by a hard covering, whereas each cob of modern maize consists of approximately 20 rows with numerous exposed kernels; and teosinte has long lateral branches terminated by male tassels, whereas modern maize has short lateral branches tipped by female ears.
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From page 87...
... Artificial selection traditionally refers to human-mediated differential propagation of plants or animals with desirable hereditary traits. in the modern biotechnology era, an entirely different form of genetic engineering is possible in which particular proteins are subjected to repeated rounds of mutation and selection, in laboratory test tubes, for improved stability or biochemical function.
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Key Terms

  • unnatural selection
  • natural selection
  • modern maize
  • protein evolution
  • lateral branches

  • female ears
  • domestic corn
  • major effect
  • exposed kernels
  • neutral mutations

  • phylogenetic histories
  • involving domestic
  • ecological isolation
  • short lateral
  • aquacultural practices

  • run counter
  • discovered region
  • protein stability
  • conscious artificial
  • purposefully try

  • domestication process
  • instead produces
  • standard agricultural
  • mutational robustness
  • wild animal

  • select domestic
  • authors review
  • protein evolvability
  • desirable protein
  • artificially select


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