Is there a word for the evolution of living things due to the preferences of humans/intelligences? Is it still natural selection if we do the selecting? Do our choices affect the evolutionary paths of certain organisms?
During a recent porch argument the topic of marijuana came up. It is my thinking and I stand to be corrected, that the plant itself developed the narcotic effect to ward off predators. Natural selection took place pre humanity solely for the plants survival. This is where the evolutionary path change topic entered the picture.....I argued that human selection has altered the path somewhat in reverse where consumption of the plant combined with human interests has actually improved the survival chances of the species. MJ no longer needs to prevent its consumption through narcotic affect, being consumed is actually beneficial.
I suppose I could compare it to plants that distribute their seeds via droppings of animals that eat their fruit or selective breeding of animals for traits we find to our liking. What would happened to organisms favoured or bred by humans if we just disappeared or if it fell out of favour....would it return to its original evolutionary path or be weakened by our interference?
During a recent porch argument the topic of marijuana came up. It is my thinking and I stand to be corrected, that the plant itself developed the narcotic effect to ward off predators. Natural selection took place pre humanity solely for the plants survival. This is where the evolutionary path change topic entered the picture.....I argued that human selection has altered the path somewhat in reverse where consumption of the plant combined with human interests has actually improved the survival chances of the species. MJ no longer needs to prevent its consumption through narcotic affect, being consumed is actually beneficial.
I suppose I could compare it to plants that distribute their seeds via droppings of animals that eat their fruit or selective breeding of animals for traits we find to our liking. What would happened to organisms favoured or bred by humans if we just disappeared or if it fell out of favour....would it return to its original evolutionary path or be weakened by our interference?