How does selective breeding differ from genetic engineering?

How does selective breeding differ from genetic engineering?

• A. Genetic engineering directly transfers genes; selective breeding relies on natural variation.
• B. Selective breeding uses natural variation by choosing parent organisms; genetic engineering directly transfers genes.
• C. Selective breeding injects genes by vectors; genetic engineering uses only traditional cross-breeding.
• D. Selective breeding is always faster and more precise than genetic engineering.

Answer: (B)

Selective breeding relies on existing genetic variation in a population and uses human choice of which individuals mate to shift traits over generations. You pick parents with desirable characteristics and let them reproduce, so the trait becomes more common through natural variation already present. Genetic engineering, by contrast, directly moves or inserts specific genes into an organism using lab techniques, often transferring genes from different species. So the key difference is that selective breeding works with traits that already exist and spread them through mating, while genetic engineering adds new genes directly to create traits. That’s why this option fits best: it states that selective breeding uses natural variation by choosing parent organisms, while genetic engineering involves direct gene transfer. The other descriptions mix up the methods—vectors are used in genetic engineering, not traditional breeding; genetic engineering is not limited to cross-breeding; and selective breeding is not always faster or more precise than engineering.

Selective breeding relies on existing genetic variation in a population and uses human choice of which individuals mate to shift traits over generations. You pick parents with desirable characteristics and let them reproduce, so the trait becomes more common through natural variation already present. Genetic engineering, by contrast, directly moves or inserts specific genes into an organism using lab techniques, often transferring genes from different species. So the key difference is that selective breeding works with traits that already exist and spread them through mating, while genetic engineering adds new genes directly to create traits.

That’s why this option fits best: it states that selective breeding uses natural variation by choosing parent organisms, while genetic engineering involves direct gene transfer. The other descriptions mix up the methods—vectors are used in genetic engineering, not traditional breeding; genetic engineering is not limited to cross-breeding; and selective breeding is not always faster or more precise than engineering.