_____ is the name given to the process in which people grow plants and...
The correct answer is option 'B' (Domestication).
Domestication is the name given to the process in which people grow plants and look after animals. It involves the intentional selection, breeding, and management of plants and animals for human use and consumption. The practice of domestication has been essential for the development of human civilization and the establishment of settled agricultural societies.
Explanation:
1. What is domestication?
Domestication refers to the process of taming wild plants and animals for human benefit. It involves altering the genetic makeup of these organisms through selective breeding and controlled cultivation. The purpose of domestication is to optimize the characteristics of plants and animals to make them more useful to humans.
2. Importance of domestication:
Domestication has played a crucial role in the development of human societies. It allowed early humans to transition from a nomadic, hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a settled, agricultural one. Domesticated plants provided a reliable source of food, while domesticated animals served various purposes such as providing meat, milk, wool, and labor.
3. Process of domestication:
Domestication involves a series of steps that gradually transform wild organisms into domesticated ones. These steps include:
- Selection: Humans choose certain individuals with desirable traits, such as higher yield, better taste, or increased docility, and breed them together.
- Breeding: Controlled mating between selected individuals leads to offspring with improved traits.
- Cultivation: Domesticated plants are cultivated in controlled environments, such as fields or gardens, to ensure their growth and productivity.
- Management: Domesticated animals are cared for, fed, and protected by humans. They may be housed in enclosures or provided with specific diets to enhance their growth and health.
4. Examples of domesticated plants and animals:
- Domesticated plants: Some examples of domesticated plants include wheat, rice, maize, potatoes, and tomatoes. These plants have been selectively bred over generations to increase their yield, improve their taste, and adapt them to various growing conditions.
- Domesticated animals: Examples of domesticated animals include dogs, cats, cows, sheep, chickens, and horses. They have been selectively bred to be more docile, provide essential resources like meat, milk, and eggs, and serve as companions or working animals.
Conclusion:
Domestication is the process through which humans have transformed wild plants and animals into domesticated organisms that serve various purposes. It has been a critical factor in the development of agriculture and human civilization. Domesticated plants and animals continue to be essential for food production, labor, and companionship in modern societies.