Agriculture and farming have a big impact on the variety of genes in plants and animals. This impact can be both good and bad.
Crop Variety: Farmers can grow different types of crops. This helps because some crops do better in changing weather. For example, by planting different kinds of wheat and rice, farmers keep a range of genetic types. This is important for making sure we have enough food.
Breeding Programs: Farmers can also choose which animals to breed. For example, they might pick cows and chickens that produce more milk or are better at fighting off illnesses. This can make the animals healthier and more productive.
Monocultures: Sometimes, farmers grow just one type of crop a lot, like corn or soybeans. This reduces the variety of plants. When there’s less genetic diversity, crops can be more easily hurt by pests and diseases. For example, if a disease affects one kind of corn, it can destroy huge fields and cause food shortages.
Loss of Wild Relatives: When land is changed for farming, wild plants that have special genetic traits may disappear. These traits might be very important for creating new plants that can handle problems in the future.
In short, agriculture can help keep genetic diversity alive by using different crops and breeding animals well. But it can also reduce that diversity when farmers focus too much on one crop or destroy wild plant habitats.
Agriculture and farming have a big impact on the variety of genes in plants and animals. This impact can be both good and bad.
Crop Variety: Farmers can grow different types of crops. This helps because some crops do better in changing weather. For example, by planting different kinds of wheat and rice, farmers keep a range of genetic types. This is important for making sure we have enough food.
Breeding Programs: Farmers can also choose which animals to breed. For example, they might pick cows and chickens that produce more milk or are better at fighting off illnesses. This can make the animals healthier and more productive.
Monocultures: Sometimes, farmers grow just one type of crop a lot, like corn or soybeans. This reduces the variety of plants. When there’s less genetic diversity, crops can be more easily hurt by pests and diseases. For example, if a disease affects one kind of corn, it can destroy huge fields and cause food shortages.
Loss of Wild Relatives: When land is changed for farming, wild plants that have special genetic traits may disappear. These traits might be very important for creating new plants that can handle problems in the future.
In short, agriculture can help keep genetic diversity alive by using different crops and breeding animals well. But it can also reduce that diversity when farmers focus too much on one crop or destroy wild plant habitats.