Hi everyone,

I first came across artificial selection at a young age through my love of dogs and my constant questions on why that puppy had spots, or long hair, or how come it was a guide dog etc. In highschool I was introduced to genetic inheritance along with evolution which sparked my interest in science, in particular Zoology, Ecology & Conservation. Now here I am as an undergrad and I hope to introduce you to the topic I find most riveting: Domestication. I shall endeavor to cover all areas, from agriculture and livestock species selected for human benefit to species bred purely for aesthetic enjoyment such as ornamental plants and pets, along with any scientific processes or ethical debates that arise along the way.

enjoy!

‘Domestication is an evolutionary process of species divergence in which morphological and physiological changes result from the cultivation/tending of plant or animal species by a mutualistic partner, most prominently humans.’ (Purugganan & Fuller, 2010)

Monday, 28 April 2014

Peaches: A Juicy Overview of Artifical Selection

I came across this interview of Dr. Desmond R. Layne, Clemson Peach Specialist, on Peach domestication in the States and I found it summed up all the main aspects of artificial selection in a brief, quirky manner.
Everything is covered, from the origin of peaches, to it's cultivation history and how we have selected for such a wide variation in traits based on consumer demand: colour, size, shape, texture, flavour and fruiting season. It is an eye-opener that cultivated peaches are heavily dependent upon us for survival as we are on them for food cultivation and economy and that left untended they will die. 

FUN FACT: Did you know that a nectarine is a 'fuzz-less' peach? They are genetically the same, expect for the loss of that one genetic 'fuzz' trait.  
ALSO: Have you ever heard of a Donut Peach? Watch this video to find out more...
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4 comments:

  1. Rhyannon Kavanagh29 April 2014 at 00:25

    Awesome post! Just how many other fruit or vegetable species rely heavily on human intervention?

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    1. Elsea Brewer8 May 2014 at 14:28

      Its really hard to give a definite number, what I have come across is that anything that is commercially grown for our food supply can be considered reliant on us. So that's any fruit/veg species you can find in the supermarket, even to species that aren't produced/eaten in Australia but are common elsewhere around the world. It adds up very quick so I would presume in the high 1000's?

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  2. Tasmin5 May 2014 at 00:16

    Very interesting video. They mention that there are many different varieties of peaches. What do they mean by “variety”? In general, where do we draw the line between “variations” and new species? Fascinating.

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  3. Elsea Brewer8 May 2014 at 14:36

    Hey Tasmin, I do believe they weren't clearly using the word 'variety' and that they were referring to morphological variations of a peach. However when we have altered the traits of an organism sufficient enough that it is no longer able to successfully reproduce with members of its original species, it is classed as its own species.
    With regards to the video, it is my belief that some of their peach 'varieties' are in fact their own species and have their own genetic line. Whereas some that may not have completely diverged can still transfer genetic material and are therefore just a morphological variation of one species.

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