AP Biology Flashcards: Artificial Selection
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
A farmer only breeds the chickens that lay the most eggs. What is this process an example of?
This is an example of artificial selection, as a human is intentionally selecting for a specific trait.
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A farmer only breeds the chickens that lay the most eggs. What is this process an example of?
This is an example of artificial selection, as a human is intentionally selecting for a specific trait.
Identify the term for the process where human choice dictates the genetic makeup of future generations in a species.
This process is called artificial selection.
How can humans affect the diversity within a population of another species?
Humans can affect diversity within a population through artificial selection, by intentionally choosing which organisms reproduce based on desired traits.
What is artificial selection?
Artificial selection is the process where humans intentionally select for certain traits in other species, thereby affecting their genetic variation.
What is the relationship between human intent and genetic variation in artificial selection?
Human intent is the driving force; by intentionally selecting for certain traits, humans directly affect the genetic variation of a population.
If a plant breeder only uses pollen from the plants that produce the sweetest fruit, what mechanism are they using to alter the plant population?
They are using artificial selection to intentionally select for the trait of sweetness, which affects the population's genetic variation.
What aspect of a species is ultimately altered by artificial selection?
Artificial selection ultimately alters the genetic variation within a species' population.
Who or what is the 'selective agent' in the process of artificial selection?
In artificial selection, humans are the selective agent because they intentionally choose which traits are passed on.
What is the direct outcome of humans intentionally selecting for specific traits in a species?
The direct outcome is an effect on the genetic variation within that species' population.
What is the key difference between natural selection and artificial selection based on the provided text?
In artificial selection, the selection is done intentionally by humans, rather than by environmental pressures.