Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Impact Of Genetic Changes During Crop Domestication, Petr Smýkal, Matthew N. Nelson, Jens D. Berger, Eric J.B. Von Wettberg
The Impact Of Genetic Changes During Crop Domestication, Petr Smýkal, Matthew N. Nelson, Jens D. Berger, Eric J.B. Von Wettberg
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Faculty Publications
Humans have domesticated hundreds of plant and animal species as sources of food, fiber, forage, and tools over the past 12,000 years, with manifold effects on both human society and the genetic structure of the domesticated species. The outcomes of crop domestication were shaped by selection driven by human preferences, cultivation practices, and agricultural environments, as well as other population genetic processes flowing from the ensuing reduction in effective population size. It is obvious that any selection imposes a reduction of diversity, favoring preferred genotypes, such as nonshattering seeds or increased palatability. Furthermore, agricultural practices greatly reduced effective population sizes …