How does selective breeding differ from natural selection?

Selective breeding is human-controlled, choosing specific traits, while natural selection is nature-driven based on survival and reproduction.

Selective breeding, also known as artificial selection, is a process used by humans to develop new organisms with desirable characteristics. Breeders select two parents that have beneficial phenotypic traits to reproduce, yielding offspring with those desired traits. For example, dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years to bring out specific traits, such as size, temperament, and ability to perform certain tasks. Similarly, crops and livestock have been selectively bred to increase yield, disease resistance, and hardiness.

On the other hand, natural selection is a process where organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. It is nature's way of improving a species' ability to survive over time. This process is not guided by humans but occurs naturally. Traits that enhance an organism's chances of survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently to the next generation. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common within the population. For example, in a population of moths, those that are able to blend in with their environment are less likely to be eaten by predators and therefore more likely to reproduce. This leads to an increase in the number of camouflaged moths in subsequent generations.

In summary, the key difference between selective breeding and natural selection lies in the driving force behind each process. Selective breeding is a human-guided process aimed at enhancing specific traits, while natural selection is an automatic, nature-driven process aimed at improving a species' overall survival and reproductive success. Both processes, however, rely on the basic principles of heredity and variation, and both can lead to significant changes in populations over time.