[PookztA]

😀

i didnt want to get too technical, but here goes:

Artificial Selection does not modify the genes / genome of an organism at all. You are simply choosing to plant the seeds from the plants that had the gene-expression pattern you liked the most. The genes of the plant have not changed, you simply choose to plant the seeds with gene-expression patterns that produce better fruits, and not plant the seeds that have gene-expression patterns that produce smaller fruits. The only difference between a seed that produces big fruits and a seed that produces small fruits is the amount of gene expression in those seeds. They have the same gene sequence / DNA sequence, but the plants that produce bigger fruits simply express that set of genes more. Still, the small plants and large plants have the same genome, so over time, no changes to the genome occur. It does not involve a new gene being added to their DNA, it simply means that the seeds that produce bigger plants are expressing more of the genes they have, where as the seeds that are producing smaller plants are simply expressing that same set of genes to a lesser magnitude.  

So, over time, using the seeds from the plants that produce the biggest and better fruits (Artificial Selection), is not modifying the actual genome / DNA, you are simply planting the seeds of plants that express their DNA more or less (which ever is preferred). No genome changes occur, no DNA sequences changes occur, no genes are added, modified, or deleted… you are simply choosing the seeds that express their fruit-genes at a higher rate / higher intensity (or lower, whichever is desired). This does not involve manipulation of the genome, no genes are inserted, no genes are deleted, and the genome remains unchanged. The only thing that changes, is that your next year's crop will be made mostly of plants that have gene-expression patterns encoding for larger fruits. The genomes are not changed. You are still plantiing seeds that have the same DNA / genome. The only thing that has changed is that you are now planting seeds that express those genes to a greater magnitude in comparison to seeds that result in smaller fruits (less expression of the same genome). The DNA sequence / genome has NOT changed, and the genes have NOT been modified or engineered.

Genetic Modification / Genetic Engineering / Transgenic Plants & Organisms = genes are inserted in to the DNA sequence, or deleted from the DNA sequence, introducing TOTALLY NEW GENES / TOTALLY NEW GENE PRODUCTS / TOTALLY NEW PROTEINS into that plant that were NEVER THERE BEFORE. one example of a gene that is added is one that may code for a new protein that results in enhanced pesticide resistance so that a crop can be sprayed with a heavy dose of pesticides without dying. Another example of a gene that may be inserted might be a gene that encodes for an additional protein enzyme that keeps a plant ripe longer so that it's shelf life is increased. AGAIN, this is a totally new gene / new gene product / new protein that has been placed within the previous genome. Since we have directly changed the DNA sequence / genome, these organisms or plants are said to be 'genetically modified / geneitcally engineered / transgenic organisms'.

No such change happens in Artificial Selection, the process you speak of…

…and there you have it.

Sure you can try and label Artificial Selection as 'genetic modification', but you are NOT modifying the genes or genome, so it is a false statement.

I am beating a dead horse now, so I hope this is now clear. There is a clear distinction between the two.

Hope this info helped someone to learn something… and if not, oh well.

P.S. – Monsanto will most likely be brought to justice within my life time.