Which of the following is an example of how artificial selection can be used to change another organism?

• A. Breeding dogs to enhance specific traits such as size or coat color
• B. Allowing only the fittest individuals to survive in the wild
• C. Randomly mutating genes in a laboratory without selecting for traits
• D. Natural migration of animals to new environments

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of artificial selection. Artificial selection is a process where humans intentionally breed organisms to enhance or develop specific traits. This is different from natural selection, which occurs without human intervention.
2. Step 2: Analyze the options provided in the question. Look for the choice that involves intentional human intervention to select and breed organisms based on desired traits.
3. Step 3: Eliminate options that describe processes unrelated to artificial selection. For example, 'Allowing only the fittest individuals to survive in the wild' refers to natural selection, not artificial selection. Similarly, 'Randomly mutating genes in a laboratory without selecting for traits' does not involve intentional selection.
4. Step 4: Focus on the option that describes breeding dogs to enhance specific traits such as size or coat color. This is a clear example of artificial selection because humans are actively choosing which dogs to breed based on desired characteristics.
5. Step 5: Confirm that the correct answer aligns with the definition of artificial selection, which involves human intervention to modify traits in organisms over generations.