Factors relating to the selection of characteristics.
Factor - Moral
Explanation - There are moral problems with selective breeding. Many people think it unethical to 'play god' and decide what is best for the animal or plant. They believe that we should let nature work, how it is supposed to work, and that we shouldn't interfere. The positives of selective breeding include helping to breed and save species before they go extinct. Selective breeding can also help to breed out traits of a species that can be dangerous, or even fatal, to their health or existence or that of other species. Morally that is good because as humans we are using our time, effort and skills to help other creatures and plants that we share the planet with. Link To Science - human intervention, through scientific means is impacting on the natural world. Morally, is that right? This is where morals of science get blurred. Factor - Economic Explanation - Scientists spend a lot of time, effort and money on research, and then actioning selective breeding. This can cause a significant drain on government funding, tax payers money and local science resources. Selective breeding can be very good for the economy, for example, if a farmer wants to sell wool, he can selectively breed sheep that grow lots of high quality, thick, wool in winter. This could then be sold, giving the farmer a higher profit. Link To Science - Researching selective breeding and putting it into practice creates a huge drain on financial resources, often government funded. Because of past successes in this field, the government is happy to continue to invest into research companies and facilities that are still developing these skills and practices. Therefore letting science progress. Factor - Environmental Explanation - Everything about Selective breeding is changing the environment. The modified plants or animals will effect the environment. As I stated before, this has a carry on effect, where anything that is introduced into the eco system will cause a chain of events. This can have a negative effect on the food chain and the local environment. Link To Science - This links into science because selective breeding changes the eco system and with that the creatures that exist within it. Changes within the food chain can dramatically impact, on a multitude of levels. The scientific makeup of flora and fauna is altered at a genetic level which then impacts on everything. |
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