Quantrex Quantrex AcademyJEE · NEET · NDA PYQs with solutions Open app
NEET
Exam
NEET
Subject
Zoology
Chapter
Evolution

NEET · Zoology · Evolution

How have humans influenced the evolution of plants and animals?

How have humans influenced the evolution of plants and animals?

Options

  1. ABy allowing natural selection to occur freely
  2. BBy creating new breeds through selective breeding
  3. CBy preventing any changes in breeds
  4. DBy avoiding any manipulation of wild species

Correct answer

B. By creating new breeds through selective breeding

Step-by-step solution

Man has bred selected plants and animals for agriculture, horticulture, sport or security. Man has domesticated many wild animals and crops. This intensive breeding programme has created breeds that differ from other breeds (e.g., dogs) but still are of the same group. It is argued that if within hundreds of years, man could create new breeds, could not nature have done the same over millions of years? Another interesting observation supporting evolution by natural selection comes from England. In a collection of moths made in 1850s, i.e., before industrialisation set in, it was observed that there were more white-winged moths on trees than dark-winged or melanised moths. However, in the collection carried out from the same area, but after industrialisation, i.e., in 1920, there were more dark-winged moths in the same area, i.e., the proportion was reversed. Humans have influenced evolution by creating new breeds of plants and animals through selective breeding for agriculture, horticulture, sport, and other purposes.

Practice Evolution on Quantrex Academy →

More from Evolution

Evolution of human appears parallel to the progressive development of brain and language… NEET 2026Given below are two statements : one is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled… NEET 2026Which of the following is not evidence for evolution ? NEET 2026Sweet potato and potato represent a certain type of evolution. Select the correct… NEET 2025Coacervates were discovered by JIPMER 2019Which one is the oldest in following? JIPMER 2019Following are the two statements regarding the origin of life. I. The earliest organisms… JIPMER 2017Variation in gene frequencies within population can occur by chance rather than by… JIPMER 2017 Full Evolution list All NEET PYQs