Natural selection

The theory of evolution states that evolution happens by natural selection. Here are
the key points:
Individuals in a species show a wide range of variation.
This variation is because of differences in genes.
Individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are more
likely to survive and reproduce.
The genes that allowed the individuals to be successful are passed to the
offspring in the next generation.

Artificial selection
- also called selective breeding is the intentional reproduction of individuals in
a population that have desirable traits. It is a contrast to natural selection.
- is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to
selectively develop characteristics by choosing which typically animal or
plant males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together
o In organisms that reproduce sexually, two adults that possess a desired
trait such as two parent plants that are tall are bred together. In
this example, the mechanisms of heredity dictate that the next
generation will consist of more tall plants than previous generations. If
artificial selection is continued, all of the population will ultimately be
tall.
Problems with selective breeding
Future generations of selectively bred organisms will all share very similar
genes. This could make some diseases more dangerous as all the organisms
would be affected. Also there's increased risk of genetic disease caused by
recessive genes.
Genetic engineering - also called genetic modification, is the transfer the genes
for the desired characteristic into an organism artificially
Certain enzymes can cut pieces of DNA from one organism, and join them into a gap
in the DNA of another organism. This means that the new organism with the
inserted genes has the genetic information for one or more new characteristics. For
example, the organism might produce a useful substance, or be able to carry out a
new function. We say that the organism has been genetically modified.

Those with sickle cell anemia are resistant to the parasite that causes malaria. A
small genetic change in hemoglobin both causes sickle cell anemia and protects
against malaria. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen
to the tissues. Deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin distorts the blood cells into a
"sickle" shape that obstructs circulation and in turn damages tissues. Conversely
the weakened sickle blood cell is a poor host for the malaria parasite as the cell
leaks needed nutrients and is selectively eliminated by the liver. This selective
advantage of sickle cell concentrates its occurrence to regions of high malaria
incidence. The malarial parasite can not live in a sickled red blood cell for two
reasons. First, the body sends sickled red blood cells to the spleen for elimination.
The body senses that sickled red blood cells are improperly formed, so destroys as
many sickled cells as possible. If a parasite is in the cell, it also is destroyed.
Second, because the cell membrane of the sickled red blood cell is stretched by its
unusual shape, it becomes porous. The sickled cell "leaks" nutrients, like potassium,
that the parasite needs to survive, so the parasite dies. Because the malarial
parasite can not live in sickled cells, an individual with S hemoglobin is therefore
resistant to the malaria.
 Variation continuous and discontinous

Variation is all the differences which exist between members of the same species. It is
caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. There are two kinds of
variation: continuous and discontinuous.

Continuous variation
- shows a complete range of the characteristic within a population.
- caused both by both gens (often a number of different genes) and environment:

Plants: availability of/competition for: nutrients, light, water;

exposure to disease
Animals: availability of food/balanced diet exposure to disease

Discontinuous variation
- seen where there are obvious, distinct categories for a feature.
- no intermediates between categories, the feature cannot usually change during
life.
- caused by a single gen/a small number of genes, with no
environmental influence.