are we holding back the development of other species on the planet??

Question

by breeding them as pets, are cows and sheep dumb because we have bred them as livestock since the middle ages??

if evolution happens with each passing generation, and teh next generation gets more equipped with what the previous had to do, by taking away obstacles from species like cats and dogs are we holding back their development

i wtched a program on tv the other night that basically said that different species come from cross breeding, and he started a computer program simulaion with two species and left it running, ended up with a whole 'virtual tree' of new organisms

so, are we holding things back is my question??

Answer 1

Quite possibly, but as long as the species EXISTS it has a chance to correct the problem later in its existence, or through some members that are not subject to human manipulation.

Where we as humans are at fault (in my opinion) is in the great number of species we cause to go extinct outside the timetable that they would have without our interference. For them there is no chance at recovery, and that's sad.

Answer 2

last month on French magazine 'Science et Vie' there was an article about the different speed of evolution in species from rainforests and other environments (not mentioning domestic ones). in rainforests it happens twice faster than other natural environments.
in Human manipulated conditions I suppose there may be two distinct situations:
A - Once Man has achieved a desirable kind of plant/animal he will maintain it's characteristics eliminating individuals which differ from the desired pattern. In this case you are right, evolution will stop, with uniformity through generations;
B - Man may imagine an ideal kind of plant/animal and through a great number of generations accumulate desirable little characteristics (resulting of small natural mutations) that will favour his ideal. In 'The Origin of Species' Darwin gives a broad explanation on this matter (for example how Man achieved the actual peers, originally very poor fruit)
I think in this case Man may actually overcome the speed of Natural Selection with his 'Artificial Selection' once he knows exactly what he wants and it's not a random situation as in the Wild.

Answer 3

Quite simply, we are changing everything on the face of our precious globe. Everything we touch, we destroy, subvert or irreperably damage.

"Every other mammal develops an equilibrium with its environment. You humans do not. You multiply and you multiply until every natural resource is consumed, and then move onto a new area. There is another organism on this planet that behaves the same way. A virus. Human beings are a disease." (Agent Smith, The Matrix)

Answer 4

A lot of "tame" animals live stock and pets and things like that chose us as much as we chose them as with all animals survival of the species is the important thing.

There will always be instant domestics that naturally use another species (i.e. us) for protection and for food.

And yes we are holding back their natural developement but they get advantages from us they wouldn't get just left to nature.

Answer 5

We have a hard time understanding our own species. We have environmental protected areas for species that are in danger of becoming extiinct. I don't think we intentionally hold back any species and if we are, it's scientific studies or mad scientists. I don't do this. Do you?

Answer 6

I have personally held back the development of numerous flies, mosquitoes and gnats, and I know many people who've held back the development of deer, squirrels, groundhogs, rabbits, turkeys and such.

But thank God! Who knows what kind of monstrous bugs and furry critters we'd have if evolution were allowed to run unchecked by gun- and fly-swatter-toting humans!

Answer 7

Probably but who cares, it's survival of the fittest and we got there first - completely Darwinian.

Answer 8

love your question, it's just ... insane !!!!

Answer 9

no ur wrong.