bio question?

Question

How is natural selection affected by genetic engineering?

Answer 1

Basically these are more or less the same process - in natural selection one set of genes is favoured over another because the organism survives and reproduces whilst another that lacks that set of genes fails to reproduce.

In genetic engineering the genes are "selected" by the scientist. "Selected" here meaning either specifically chosen, introduced or artificially created. The end result is that these genes become expressed in the resulting organism whilst other rival genes are not.

Genetic engineering is designed to alter the functionality of the organism - usually this may be seen (from our point of view, at least) as an "improvement" - such as increased disease resistance or the elimination of an inherited disease or the increase in yield of a crop. Other possibilities for genetic engineering could be to remove a disease or pest - e.g. possibly introducing a gene into the malarial mosquito population which would in some way reduce the spread of malaria.

In genetic engineering, therefore "natural" selection has been replaced by "human" selection. Selection by genetic engineering may drive selection along the same route as may be taken by natural selection or along a different one. It can be assumed that most organisms, humans included, would benefit from increased disease resistance for example and that therefore eventually humans may evolve resistance to diseases without genetic engineering. In this example we could argue that genetic engineering is simply acting to direct natural selection along that route and speed up the natural process.

Answer 2

Genetic engineering steps outside the realm of natural selection. People are choosing the genetic combinations, so this is a technologically enhanced version of artificial selection. Any new combinations produced by genetic engineering that don't survive will be selected against by natural selection, though.

Answer 3

Natural selection (letting nature evolve) maintains the rule of "survival of the fittest". If a mutation fails to survive, it disappears from the gene pool. However, if a mutation is stronger, faster, smarter, or just plain better than its peers, it will continue to survive and, eventually, replace its cousins.

Genetic engineering speeds up the process. We see forms of it with new dog and cat breeds, new kinds of flowers (roses for example) and other hy-brids. The problem with genetic engineering is that we humans have now taken the place of Mother Nature. We are breeding or creating mutations that we think are superior to existing forms. We are doing this for our own selfish reasons (good or bad) and, although they will deny it, it is impossible for scientists to foretell the impact of these mutations thousands, if not millions, of years down the road.

I think that the only genetic engineering that should be allowed is for disease prevention. Even there, I think that by mutating certain viruses or bacteria, we may be opening pandora's box for future gernerations. Who knows? The real impact won't be known for centuries so we won't be around to see the effect, thank God.

Answer 4

Basically, natural selection deals with the traits on organism obtains. It also deals with the Phenotypes and the Genotypes. Where the Phenotypes of a living thing is based more on the physical characteristics. The Genotype deals more with the outline of the phenotype. Both of these factors determine if the organism is able to deal with Darwin's survival of the fittest. Where the organism with the most favorable traits is the one who survives and continues to reproduce.

So, if an organism is affected by genetic engineering, that organism might be affected in either a good or bad way. If affected in a good way, the organism might be able to live up to Darwin's survival of the fittest and continue to reproduce and share its preferred traits with its offspring. But, if affected in a bad way, then the organism will not be able to live long enough in order to reproduce and share its unfavored traits.