Unit 7: Topic 3 - Artificial Selection

Question 1

What is and how does artificial selection affect the diversity/variation of other species?

Answer 1

Artificial selection by humans is the selection of phenotypes (manipulation of phenotypic frequencies) based on personal interest. For example, breeding two dogs because of the desired traits in both. This can affect the course of evolution for the dog species as certain breeds have greater/less fitness and the variety of the types of species.

Question 2

What is convergent evolution and when does it occur?

Answer 2

When two different species in different locations occupy similar niches/selective pressures, the species adapt similarly (phenotypically). For instance, the common mole and marsupian mole are two different species. However, they look very similar due to their history of occupying the same niche.