Is there any possible way to manipulate evolution or mutation in animals that reproduce quickly?

Question

I learned in biology that insects can form a resistance to certain types of pesticides. Isn't this another form of evolution. maybe "mini evolution." Maybe the same could happen to bacteria and other quick reproducing organisms.

Answer 1

Absolutely.

When an insect forms resistance to a pesticide, that isn't a form of "mini evolution", that *is* evolution, pure and simple. Likewise a bacteria that forms resistance to antibiotics. That *is* evolution.

Evolution is just the slow change in a population over time, in reaction to environment. That's it.

So how do we manipulate evolution? By manipulating the environment (the conditions that determine what survives/reproduces and what doesn't).

So say you breed cocker spaniels. You go to dog shows and show your best dogs. You breed the ones that come back with ribbons for having good "cocker spaniel traits", maybe sharing breedings with other cocker spaniel breeders who themselves have prize-winning dogs. You keep the puppies that have desireable cocker spaniel traits, and you get rid of the ones that don't (you neuter them and sell them as pets). You and all the other cocker spaniel breeders in your region/state/country are absolutely *manipulating evolution*. That is precisely how we got such widely diverging sub-populations of dogs as cocker spaniels, great danes, and chihuahuas. They are all just the result of humans messing with evolution.

The only difference between breeding (artificial selection) and evolution in nature (natural selection) is what is doing the *selection*. Artificial selection is much *faster* (because the breeder can limit breedings to *only* the desireable ones). But otherwise they are exactly the same thing.

And BTW, people who deny that this process can produce different species are quite wrong. Scientists have been able to do this quite easily with plants, fruit flies, other kinds of insects, worms, etc. (produce two strains that are incapable of interbreeding ... the definition of 'different species') ... although the experiment can take several years to run its course.

As far as manipulating bacteria ... there is unfortunately no clear way to manipulate the evolution of bacteria so only the *less* harmful ones survive. Why? Because we still have to treat people with the disease. But doing so strengthens the disease itself in the wider population, by selecting for those bacteria that have traits that make them resistant.

However, we can artificially breed strains of a bacterium that are less harmful, and then "infect" people with them which causes them to develop antibodies to the bad version. This is one method we use to develop vaccines ... such as yellow fever, measles, rubella, and mumps. I suppose, in a way, this is "manipulating evolution" of these bacteria, by manipulating the environment to favor the less-harmful versions (by "helping" the less-harmful versions to propagate faster).

Interesting thought. Good question.

Answer 2

People have been intentionally speeding up mutations in crop plants since the 1950s by exposing plants to radiation when the stamens and ovaries are developing. Agriculture companies have called these types of plant "hybrids" - i guess "mutants" is not a good term to use if you want to market your product. This approach has greatly in ceased crop yields, and introduced all sorts of characteristics in the crops, such as elimination of noxious chemicals (rape plant --> canola), drought resistance, slower ripening in apples and tomatoes so they have a longer shelf life, and resistance to herbicides so herbicides can kill everything but the crop. The problem with this approach is that the mutations are random, and the process is really trial and error. This is now being replaced with genetic engineering, which is much more precise - if you want purple strawberries, you find another plant with purple fruit, extract the the purple gene and insert it into a strawberry.

The risks of doing this with plants or especially bacteria, is that you have no way to predict what these little Frankensteins are going to do when they get loose. Introducing some newly designed bacteria doesn't mean the old bacteria will go away. Maybe the new bacteria and old bacteria would hybridize, and instead of helping out, create some super bacteria this is impossible to kill. Messin with mother nature can land you in heap o'trouble.

Answer 3

Bacteria are evolving much more quickly than humans because they have a shorter generation time, and they're less complex which means that a drastic change in their DNA or chemistry is more likely to work.

Humans are certainly affecting the evolution of microbes, but so does everything else in the world, and we have no idea if they're evolving faster now because of us, or if they evolved faster 200 years ago due to some other influence.

How we're affecting microbe evolution: pollution, antibiotics for both humans and livestock, changes in habitats, new habitats (cities, hospitals), etc . . . .

To speed evolution up, you'd have to speed up the changes that the organisms experience, or you'd have to induce more mutations. You can induce more mutations by radiation or by messing with their DNA Polymerase proofreading functions.

Answer 4

It does: evolution of bacteria occurs very quickly, and has rendered many of the older antibiotics ineffective. You can apply evolutionary pressure in various ways, such as by radiation or chemicals (such as pesticides), and nuisance insects will evolve to resist the pressures (although not as quickly as bacteria).

Answer 5

Here's a classic example. Bacteria were grown in one medium for 10,000 generations, then on the same medium or another one at two different temperatures. A number of favorable mutations appeared to utilize the new medium.

Answer 6

bacteria evoles much faster because they live faster and die faster. That is why scientists are always finding new medicines because certain bacteria can resist the "old" stuff. humans cant evolve THAT fast because we cant reproduce that fast and our lifespan is longer than bacteria.
I don't think evolution can be manipulated and no offense but I hope it CAN'T be.

Answer 7

sadly, i believe "evolution" can be manipulated....it's happening everyday on its own, in the microbe world....but due to our research in our own dna, gene splicing, etc. proves that we can manipulate, and most likely WILL....

when dealing with genes n whatnot, your dealing w/the basics--the blueprints of what makes something the way it is....once you start making changes in that blueprint and allowing it to replicate, that's where forced 'evolution' occurs....i say forced, because we did something to make it change, rather than allow it to change on its own....

and i shall look into the speed of the changes, based on longevity....that is an interesting area...thanx for the idea!

:0)

Answer 8

That's exactly what is occurring, yes.