Artificial Selection: Shaping Life
Explore the principles and impacts of artificial selection with this comprehensive worksheet for Grade 8 science students.
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Artificial Selection: Shaping Life
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Use complete sentences for short answer questions.
1. What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes artificial selection from natural selection?
Artificial selection occurs randomly.
Artificial selection is driven by human intervention.
Artificial selection always leads to stronger organisms.
Artificial selection only happens in plants.
2. Which of the following is an example of artificial selection?
Bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics.
Finches on the Galapagos Islands adapting to different food sources.
Farmers breeding cows for increased milk production.
Polar bears evolving thick fur in cold climates.
1. Artificial selection has been used by humans for thousands of years.
True
False
2. All traits selected through artificial selection are beneficial to the organism in a natural environment.
True
False
1. Artificial selection is also known as .
2. Humans choose organisms with desirable to breed.
3. The vast diversity of dog breeds is a prime example of .
1. Explain how artificial selection has led to the wide variety of dog breeds we see today. Use the image below to help you answer.
2. Describe one potential negative consequence of artificial selection.
Match the term on the left with its definition on the right.
1. Artificial Selection
a. The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
2. Natural Selection
b. The intentional breeding of plants and animals by humans to produce desirable traits.
3. Trait
c. A distinguishing quality or characteristic, typically one belonging to a person.