It involves mating a male that displays at least one desirable characteristic with a female that displays at least one other desirable characteristic, in the hope that some offspring will inherit the desired favourable genetic traits from both parents.
The outcome of selective breeding: potentially could have undesirable genes inherited together, costly, time consuming --> Artificial insemination, IVF seem to be less problematic
Artificial insemination
This involves the deliberate introduction of male sperm into the female reproductive tract by a method other than sexual intercourse.
Artificial insemination allows for the expansion of the genetic pool, allowing inbreeding to be avoided and increasing resilience through genetic variation. It also allows for semen samples to be screened for disease and quality, improving reproductive health of the population.
The disadvantage of artificial insemination: breeders having to detect the best time for female conception, as well as selecting the most valuable male sire for the gene pool.
Artificial Insemination- Animal Husbandry (breeding and caring for farm animals)
it allows desirable characteristics from a specific male animal to be passed onto to future generations. --> beneficial
The process of artificial insemination - animal husbandry: semen is collected from the male, inserted into the female reproductive tract or the sperm can be frozen which allows for long term storage and transportation to other locations to impregnate multiple female animals.
Artificial Insemination- Wildlife conservation
This technology is used to improve the reproductive success of endangered species.
Advantages of artificial insemination - wildlife conservation: animals don't have to be transported long distances
Disadvantages of artificial insemination: can reduce natural mating behaviour
IVF: In vitro fertilisation is the process where an egg is fertilised by a sperm outside the mother's body. The resulting zygotes is cultured (grown) then transferred back into the biological mother (or surrogate or for later use).
IVF reduces genetic diversity of populations
Genes for infertility is passed on by the offspring
Artificial Pollination
Artificial pollination occurs when humans naturally facilitate the natural plant pollination process.
The process of artificial pollination: The pollen is taken from the stamen (male part) of one flower and dusted over the stigma (female part) of another flower resulting in fertilisation and the development of seeds.
Artificial pollination allows humans to choose pollen from plants with desirable characteristics (e.g. disease resistant fruit) and to spread these genetic traits quickly through a population
The outcome of artificial pollination: studies have shown that compared to hand pollinated plants, insect pollinated plants had larger fruit and greater seed germination rates
Evidence shows that artificial pollination increases genetic variability within populations due to the creation of hybrid species.
Artificial Pollination- Conservation
Artificial pollination is being used to conserve endangered species of plants.
Global plant biodiversity is at risk from human induced threats of habitat destruction and degradation, climate change and invasive species.
Key ecological interactions of plants and pollinators is also under threat, with pollinator species such as bees globally in decline.
scientists are turning to artificial pollination to help fertilise endangered plants and increase their population both in the wild and in botanic gardens.
Artificial insemination
Benefit: can limit the spread of infectious diseases between animals as samples are screened and no physical contact between animals occurs.
Benefit: inexpensive which allows breeding to occur despite geographic barriers.
Artificial insemination
Limitation: decline in fertility in dairy cattle and horses since the mainstream use of this reproductive technology began.
Artificial insemination: breeding the majority of food production animals in developed countries; it can be used to improve reproductive efficiency and breed more productive livestock.
Medical
Artificial insemination, which is mostly used via intrauterine insemination, allows humans to conceive a child despite challenges including fertility problems or the absence of a sexual partner. It is a relatively inexpensive and non-invasive procedure, allowing many to access reproductive technology.
A reduction in genetic variation lessens the species’ resilience to changes in the environment and disease, as well as reducing the ability of the environment to meet the needs of humans in the future
Reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and pollination can lead to a reduction in genetic variation by focusing on, and selecting for, fewer varieties and breeds.
Whole organism cloning poses a risk to biodiversity, with the potential for multiple identical genetic copies becoming widespread in a population resulting in loss of natural vigour.
Artificial insemination and pollination allow for the introduction of new genes to a population, which can increase the genetic variation in the gene pool.
De-extinction methods hold the potential to re-introduce lost genetic variation into a population, restore ecosystem functioning, as well as genetic resilience.
The use of gene cloning can also be used in GMOs to re-introduce wild varieties of crops.