what's the impact of artificial pollination on the genetic diversity of a species?? could bt cotton be used as an example for this question? if so, how is its genetic diversity effected? if not, what are some named examples that has had its species genetically altered (plants)?
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genetics & blueprint of life assessment (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter -----emma
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zingerburger
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- Mar 27, 2006
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- 2007
To start off, artficial pollination has the effect of lowering genetic diversity of a particular species. Say if you wanted a particular trait (e.g. extra fluffy cotton or something), you would artificially pollinate the species to bring about certain offspring with that desirable characteristic.
This might not necessarily be a good thing because doing so can also bring about undesirable characteristics. For example, a certain disease might be introduced and the cotton plants with the desirable fluffy trait may also carry an undesirable trait that makes them particularly susceptible to that disease. You therefore, have a whole population that is susceptible to the disease.
Without genetic diversity, the chances of the species to survive the disease outbreak is greatly reduced - the whole species could likely be wiped out. If there was genetic diversity, some plants that might have been carrying the disease-resistant trait are more likely to survive, and pass on their traits to offspring.
This might not necessarily be a good thing because doing so can also bring about undesirable characteristics. For example, a certain disease might be introduced and the cotton plants with the desirable fluffy trait may also carry an undesirable trait that makes them particularly susceptible to that disease. You therefore, have a whole population that is susceptible to the disease.
Without genetic diversity, the chances of the species to survive the disease outbreak is greatly reduced - the whole species could likely be wiped out. If there was genetic diversity, some plants that might have been carrying the disease-resistant trait are more likely to survive, and pass on their traits to offspring.
