Introduction:
Artificial Selection is a process in the breeding of animals and in the cultivation of plants by which the breeder chooses certain desirable inheritable characteristics. Through this investigation, we are trying to carry out artificial selection using the Wisconsin Fast Plant (Brassica rapa). The Wisconsin Fast Plant has an incredibly short life cycle compared to other plants, making it a prime candidate for this artificial selection lab. The plants also need to be cross-pollinated in order to undergo artificial selection. This process is accomplished by first, identifying the stamen (male parts) and the pistil (female parts) and then using a pipe cleaner or other similar tools to collect the pollen from one flower and then transfer it to another flower. We chose to attempt directional selection in order to breed more tall plants and less of the short plants
Materials and Methods:
The independent variable is the passage of time upon which the plant height depends. The P generation is the control in this case; they are the original sample, and their progeny is acted upon. We performed this experiment by first growing a random group of Wisconsin Fast Plants. We emasculated the shorter plants in order to prevent self-pollination, and bred the taller plants with all the other plants. We harvested these seeds and planted them
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After the experiment, the data we collected from our F1 generation showed that most of the plants moved towards the upper end of the graph. The highest amount of plants were at 20.1- 22cm and 26.1- 28cm. Interestingly enough, the graph of the P generation was skewed right while, the graph of the F1 generation. In regards to the distribution of both graphs, The F1 graph was more evenly distributed than the graph of the P