AP Biology Flashcards: Artificial Selection

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Artificial Selection, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Biology.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Which practice is used to control traits in animal breeding?

Answer: Pedigree selection. Breeding records track inheritance of desired characteristics.

Flashcard 2: Which term defines the desired traits in artificial selection?

Answer: Selective traits. Specific characteristics humans want to enhance through breeding.

Flashcard 3: Identify a scientific field that benefits from artificial selection.

Answer: Genetic research. Model organisms created through selective breeding programs.

Flashcard 4: Identify a primary difference between artificial and natural selection.

Answer: Artificial selection is driven by humans, natural selection by environmental pressures. Selection agents differ: humans vs. environment.

Flashcard 5: What is a limitation of artificial selection?

Answer: Potential loss of genetic diversity. Narrow focus reduces adaptive flexibility of populations.

Flashcard 6: Identify an example of artificial selection in pets.

Answer: Breeding dogs for specific coat colors. Breeders select parents with preferred coat colors.

Flashcard 7: What is selective breeding?

Answer: The process of choosing specific organisms to breed for desired traits. Controlled breeding to enhance specific heritable traits.

Flashcard 8: Which trait might be artificially selected in dairy cows?

Answer: Higher milk yield. Economic trait improving dairy farm profitability.

Flashcard 9: Name a trait targeted in ornamental plant breeding.

Answer: Flower size. Visual appeal drives ornamental plant breeding decisions.

Flashcard 10: Which term describes breeding animals for specific traits?

Answer: Selective breeding. Process of choosing parents based on desired phenotypes.

Flashcard 11: Name a benefit of artificial selection in agriculture.

Answer: Improved crop yields. Selected traits increase agricultural productivity and food security.

Flashcard 12: Which organism is a classic example of artificial selection?

Answer: Domesticated dogs. Thousands of years of human-directed breeding created dog breeds.

Flashcard 13: What impact does artificial selection have on evolution?

Answer: It accelerates changes in phenotypes. Human selection speeds up phenotypic changes over generations.

Flashcard 14: What is a potential negative consequence of artificial selection?

Answer: Increased vulnerability to diseases. Reduced diversity makes populations more susceptible to pathogens.

Flashcard 15: Which characteristic is often targeted in artificial selection of crops?

Answer: Disease resistance. Resistant plants survive pathogens and produce better yields.

Flashcard 16: Which process involves human intervention in reproduction?

Answer: Artificial selection. Humans control mating to influence offspring traits.

Flashcard 17: What is a common goal of artificial selection in forestry?

Answer: Faster growth rates. Trees selected for rapid wood production and harvest cycles.

Flashcard 18: What is a potential negative consequence of artificial selection?

Answer: Increased vulnerability to diseases. Reduced diversity makes populations more susceptible to pathogens.

Flashcard 19: What is one method used for artificial selection in plants?

Answer: Cross-pollination. Controlled breeding technique to combine desired genes.

Flashcard 20: Name a common example of artificial selection in agriculture.

Answer: Selective breeding of crops like corn for yield traits. Farmers select high-yielding plants for breeding programs.

Flashcard 21: Identify an outcome of artificial selection in domesticated animals.

Answer: Increased milk production in dairy cattle. Cows bred for high milk production over generations.

Flashcard 22: What is artificial selection?

Answer: Artificial selection is the human-driven breeding for desirable traits. Humans select parents with desired traits to pass to offspring.

Flashcard 23: What is a selective pressure in artificial selection?

Answer: Human preference for specific traits. Human desires replace environmental pressures in selection.

Flashcard 24: What is one method used for artificial selection in plants?

Answer: Cross-pollination. Controlled breeding technique to combine desired genes.

Flashcard 25: What is the goal of artificial selection?

Answer: To enhance specific desirable traits in organisms. Humans breed organisms to amplify beneficial characteristics.

Flashcard 26: Name a trait targeted in ornamental plant breeding.

Answer: Flower size. Visual appeal drives ornamental plant breeding decisions.

Flashcard 27: Identify a benefit of artificial selection in livestock.

Answer: Improved meat quality. Animals bred for better taste, texture, and nutrition.

Flashcard 28: What is one ethical concern with artificial selection?

Answer: Potential welfare issues for animals. Extreme breeding can cause health problems in animals.

Flashcard 29: What is artificial selection?

Answer: Artificial selection is the human-driven breeding for desirable traits. Humans select parents with desired traits to pass to offspring.

Flashcard 30: Define a selective breeding program.

Answer: A system where specific traits are targeted for breeding. Organized approach to improving organism characteristics.

Flashcard 31: Name a factor influencing trait selection in artificial selection.

Answer: Market demand. Economic value drives which traits humans select for.

Flashcard 32: What is a common goal of artificial selection in horticulture?

Answer: Enhanced flower color or shape. Ornamental plants bred for aesthetic appeal to consumers.

Flashcard 33: What is the result of artificial selection on genetic diversity?

Answer: Reduction in genetic diversity. Focusing on few traits reduces allelic variation.

Flashcard 34: Which term defines the desired traits in artificial selection?

Answer: Selective traits. Specific characteristics humans want to enhance through breeding.

Flashcard 35: Identify a scientific field that benefits from artificial selection.

Answer: Genetic research. Model organisms created through selective breeding programs.

Flashcard 36: Identify a commonly selected trait in poultry farming.

Answer: Egg production. Economically important trait in commercial poultry operations.

Flashcard 37: Identify a trait commonly selected for in livestock.

Answer: Growth rate. Faster growth means quicker market readiness and profits.

Flashcard 38: What is a limitation of artificial selection?

Answer: Potential loss of genetic diversity. Narrow focus reduces adaptive flexibility of populations.

Flashcard 39: What is a genetic bottleneck?

Answer: Reduced genetic diversity due to selective breeding. Population loses alleles when only certain individuals breed.

Flashcard 40: Identify a benefit of artificial selection in livestock.

Answer: Improved meat quality. Animals bred for better taste, texture, and nutrition.

Flashcard 41: Which characteristic is often targeted in artificial selection of crops?

Answer: Disease resistance. Resistant plants survive pathogens and produce better yields.

Flashcard 42: Identify an example of artificial selection in pets.

Answer: Breeding dogs for specific coat colors. Breeders select parents with preferred coat colors.

Flashcard 43: Identify a trend in artificial selection of food crops.

Answer: Enhanced nutritional content. Breeding for health benefits and consumer preferences.

Flashcard 44: What does artificial selection rely on?

Answer: Genetic variation among individuals. Natural variation provides raw material for selection programs.

Flashcard 45: Which process involves human intervention in reproduction?

Answer: Artificial selection. Humans control mating to influence offspring traits.

Flashcard 46: What does artificial selection rely on?

Answer: Genetic variation among individuals. Natural variation provides raw material for selection programs.

Flashcard 47: Name a factor influencing trait selection in artificial selection.

Answer: Market demand. Economic value drives which traits humans select for.

Flashcard 48: Which trait might be artificially selected in dairy cows?

Answer: Higher milk yield. Economic trait improving dairy farm profitability.

Flashcard 49: What is selective breeding?

Answer: The process of choosing specific organisms to breed for desired traits. Controlled breeding to enhance specific heritable traits.

Flashcard 50: Identify a consequence of long-term artificial selection.

Answer: Fixed alleles and reduced adaptability. Inbreeding reduces variation and adaptive potential.

Flashcard 51: What is a genetic bottleneck?

Answer: Reduced genetic diversity due to selective breeding. Population loses alleles when only certain individuals breed.

Flashcard 52: What role do humans play in artificial selection?

Answer: Humans choose which traits are desirable and breed accordingly. Humans act as selective agents determining reproductive success.

Flashcard 53: What is one ethical concern with artificial selection?

Answer: Potential welfare issues for animals. Extreme breeding can cause health problems in animals.

Flashcard 54: Which term describes breeding animals for specific traits?

Answer: Selective breeding. Process of choosing parents based on desired phenotypes.

Flashcard 55: What is an objective of artificial selection in aquaculture?

Answer: Increased growth rate of fish. Faster growth improves aquaculture efficiency and profits.

Flashcard 56: What is a selective pressure in artificial selection?

Answer: Human preference for specific traits. Human desires replace environmental pressures in selection.

Flashcard 57: Which practice is used to control traits in animal breeding?

Answer: Pedigree selection. Breeding records track inheritance of desired characteristics.

Flashcard 58: Name a common example of artificial selection in agriculture.

Answer: Selective breeding of crops like corn for yield traits. Farmers select high-yielding plants for breeding programs.

Flashcard 59: Identify a consequence of long-term artificial selection.

Answer: Fixed alleles and reduced adaptability. Inbreeding reduces variation and adaptive potential.

Flashcard 60: What is one advantage of artificial selection?

Answer: Development of desirable traits more quickly. Human selection accelerates trait development compared to nature.

Flashcard 61: What is the goal of artificial selection?

Answer: To enhance specific desirable traits in organisms. Humans breed organisms to amplify beneficial characteristics.

Flashcard 62: What impact does artificial selection have on evolution?

Answer: It accelerates changes in phenotypes. Human selection speeds up phenotypic changes over generations.

Flashcard 63: Identify a trend in artificial selection of food crops.

Answer: Enhanced nutritional content. Breeding for health benefits and consumer preferences.

Flashcard 64: What role do humans play in artificial selection?

Answer: Humans choose which traits are desirable and breed accordingly. Humans act as selective agents determining reproductive success.

Flashcard 65: Which process involves humans selecting traits in organisms?

Answer: Artificial selection. Only humans consciously choose breeding pairs for traits.

Flashcard 66: Which process can lead to exaggerated traits in organisms?

Answer: Artificial selection. Human preferences can amplify extreme phenotypes.

Flashcard 67: Identify a trait commonly selected for in livestock.

Answer: Growth rate. Faster growth means quicker market readiness and profits.

Flashcard 68: Identify a primary difference between artificial and natural selection.

Answer: Artificial selection is driven by humans, natural selection by environmental pressures. Selection agents differ: humans vs. environment.

Flashcard 69: Name a benefit of artificial selection in agriculture.

Answer: Improved crop yields. Selected traits increase agricultural productivity and food security.

Flashcard 70: Identify an outcome of artificial selection in domesticated animals.

Answer: Increased milk production in dairy cattle. Cows bred for high milk production over generations.

Flashcard 71: Which organism is a classic example of artificial selection?

Answer: Domesticated dogs. Thousands of years of human-directed breeding created dog breeds.

Flashcard 72: Define a selective breeding program.

Answer: A system where specific traits are targeted for breeding. Organized approach to improving organism characteristics.

Flashcard 73: What is a common goal of artificial selection in forestry?

Answer: Faster growth rates. Trees selected for rapid wood production and harvest cycles.