What is the subject of breeding? Achievements of modern breeding

Selection is one of the most modern and promising sciences. Thanks to its achievements, new species of living organisms have already been created, which have brought many benefits to humanity. The subject of the study, the tasks and the main directions of selection will be considered in our article.

Subject and tasks of selection

What is the subject of breeding? This is the science of improving existing and breeding new breeds of animals, plant varieties and strains of microorganisms. Its subject is the study and implementation in practice of specific patterns of their evolution. Achievements of modern breeding count tens of thousands of organisms useful to humans. The theoretical basis of this direction is another science - genetics. She considers the features of heredity and the variability of all living things.

The main tasks of breeding are the removal of more productive varieties of plants and prolific animal species. And scientists are trying to bring out individuals who will not be unpretentious to the conditions of the habitat and their change in an unfavorable side for them. To microorganisms are also high demands. It is resistance to mutational processes and the rate of division of useful bacterial cells.

Basic methods of breeding

What is the subject of breeding, we found out. But since all studied organisms differ significantly in structure and features, different groups of methods are applied to each of them. For a long time, unconsciously, people have used selection. In breeding this is the main method. Along with it, hybridization and the action of mutagens are used. At the present stage of development, fundamentally new experimental methods are used-gene and cellular engineering.

Biotechnology

At present, biological processes and systems have received the scale of industrial production. As a result, highly effective forms of microorganisms, cell and tissue cultures of plants and animals were obtained. Moreover, the achievements of modern breeding make it possible to obtain a natural product with predetermined properties.

Features of plant breeding

So, a valuable initial form - this is what is the subject of selection. However, the peculiarities of the structure of plants allow us to apply only certain methods for creating new features on the basis of the initial ones. This is inbreeding, polyploidy, mutagenesis and hybridization. Among them, one can distinguish more traditional ones. These are different types of selection, as well as hybridization. To bring a new variety with the expected qualities, it is necessary to carry out a complex work. It consists in the selection of valuable initial forms and hybridization with subsequent selection. In this way, as a result of crossing apple trees with valuable taste and frost-resistant qualities, varieties were obtained that combine the valuable properties of hybrids.

The method of heterosis is also effective in plant breeding. For this it is necessary to deduce independent rows of clean lines, and then cross them among themselves. As a result, more productive varieties of many fruit and forage crops are obtained.

The phenomenon of polyploidy consists in a multiple increase in the number of chromosomes. Initially, this occurred naturally in nature when plants were exposed to mutagens. At the present stage, breeders most often act on diploid cells with alkaloid colchicine. The obtained forms have an increased fecundity in comparison with the initial ones. And their genotype is changed to tetraploid.

Selection of animals

In animal breeding, several other methods are used, because they are not capable of vegetative reproduction. Scientists use mainly individual selection and two types of hybridization. With related mating, there is an increase in homozygosity, leading to degeneration of the species and loss of its valuable qualities. To avoid this, breeders alternate closely-and unrelated crosses. Valuable individuals were obtained by scientists in crossing individuals of different species. Examples of such achievements of breeding are a hybrid of donkey and horse - mule, yak and cow - haynak. The problem is that most of the individuals derived from this crossing are sterile and unable to produce prolific offspring. The exception to this rule is the ligre and tigrolev, the females of which are capable of further reproduction.

Microorganisms and peculiarities of their selection

And now let's find out what is the subject of the selection of microorganisms. These are all kinds of prokaryotic bacteria, protozoa, unicellular fungi and lower plants - algae. Many of them are sources of medicines, fodder additives, fertilizers, are used in winemaking, the production of bread and dairy products. In order to transfer a valuable and productive strain to industrial production, it is necessary to go through several stages. First, the most stable cells are identified. This selection is based on hereditary variability. Further valuable strains are treated with mutagens. After this, it is necessary to identify the most productive cells with an already altered genotype. Selected clones undergo repeated re-entry to a new nutrient medium. And already selected strains are multiplied on an industrial scale.

Prospects for the development of biotechnology

The achievements of modern breeding have already helped to solve many important problems. For example, newly bred, more productive varieties of plants and animal breeds help to provide food to the regions of the planet that need it especially.

The use of biohumus and fertilizers, created on the basis of hemotrophs and earthworms, provides an accelerated increase in plant mass. When using these substances obtained by breeders, the soil is more effectively supplied with nitrogen and phytohormones.

In the multiplication of plants, the method of tissue culture is increasingly used, as a result of which it is possible to obtain planting material that is not infected with viruses. On the basis of microorganisms, recent breeders have created new fodder proteins, which are better assimilated by animals.

Selection is also an important part of the modern pharmaceutical industry. With the help of biosynthesis, hormones, antibiotics and enzymes are obtained.

So, the subject of breeding is the methods by which you can increase the productivity of agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industries. At present, thanks to the achievements of modern science, varieties, breeds and microorganisms have been created, thanks to which many problems of mankind will be solved.