Did domesticated characters exist in wild ancestors?
Considering that many animals have been domesticated over a long period of time, the question that is usually asked is whether these animals came from the wild ancestors and were a process of evolution that was experienced by each and every other animal in those periods of evolution. According to Darwin it is impossible to come to an exact conclusion as to whether these animals came from one particular species or from several others, however, he argues that the wide range of varieties that are domesticated were derived from few ancestors. These animals have shown less variation between them and their ancestors. Darwin also believes that there existed many breeds of animals in the wild that were exhibiting a range of variations that is currently seen in domesticated animals. For instance, in the case of pigeon, poultry or duck, Darwin was not convinced that each came from a different species. Most scholars and scientist easily believed that they came from different species without really putting into considerations the amount of years of accumulation of the differences following the many generations that have passed with time.
In doing a close examination between the efficacy of nature selection and selection of breeders, Darwin was involved so much in the claim that breeders did more to emphasize the animals that were already in existence among the wild species and no permanent changes would be made by selective breeding. It is important to note, however, that if the currently domesticated animals were reflections of their ancestors, the analogy put forward by Darwin would terribly fail because selection would have brought very slight new characters if any at all. To convince the many souls that were interested in this study it was essential that Darwin would come up with contrary position. With respect to this, his interpretation of the origin of the characteristics of animals, that is experienced largely in the domesticated pigeons served as a good example, this is because it is the simplest of all other species.
Darwin explains that it is not common to find in the natural structure, the kind of existence in domesticated pigeons, and for this structure to have been well formed, it would have a thorough domestication of many generations of several species of wild pigeons, then either by intervention or by chance pick some of the very specific or extraordinary species, which by then were going extinct. In the same light, considering the colouring of the different species of pigeons, Darwin explains that, if all the breeds came from the same and similar varied species, it would not be difficult to assume that human kind did not have anything to do with the colouring of the diverse species in question. However, in doing so, we would be left with unconvincing possibilities: firstly, that all the several stocks were initially coloured and like rock pigeons, secondly, that the domesticated pigeons had returned to same markings and colours through some kind of nature. Otherwise, it is possible to note that the species would have been as a result of crossing with the rock pigeons and reverted to the characteristics of pigeons that are not of rock origin and Darwin clearly explains that there exists no evidence that offspring can give characteristics that are of only one parent. Therefore, it is a fact that all the explanations offered by Darwin would require specific events, so it is the claim that the new characteristics arose through selection, and appears to be viable compared to the rest of the theories and claims according to William Whewell. The man in his philosophy says that the ability of making a conclusion on a phenomenon can be well made using simpler and fewer arguments would result to a good theory, and is a characteristic of Darwin’s theory.
In his work, Darwin, concludes by pointing out a number of factors that may aid or hinder the power of the efforts to alter some breeds (Largent, 14-28). Higher levels of variation is normally available and are favourable, it is also a fact that the large numbers of individuals that are kept could result to increased qualities that are preferred. It is a fact that whiles the low numbers would result to encouragement of breeders to spread without necessarily selecting. The plants and animals usually considered useful compel breeders to provide individuals with the closest attention required in the process of searching a favourable structure and qualities. Preventing the processes of crossing over between the various species that are ever emerging would encourage divergence of varieties, so it is important to put in serious consideration the geographical segregation of the specific species through enclosing the land, and is considered a significant factor in selecting traits that can generate new and fundamental breeds of choice.
Certain breeds have not developed new varieties and Darwin explains this contrast in different organisms and in this case pigeons. Darwin also goes ahead to consider the cases of cats, and explains that it is one of the cases that is difficult to control because of the varied pairing habits. In donkey’s case, few have been kept over the recent past years and are kept by poor people; this has resulted to little attention paid in their breeding. Some animals like peacock are not commonly reared neither are large stocks frequently kept, geese on the other side are only kept for purposes of food and there is a little propulsion to produce new varieties.
In his conclusion, Darwin expresses that these causes of change was caused by continued accumulation of the action of selection, which was either applied unconsciously, methodically, efficiently or even more quickly than ever and has resulted to the variation that is cause by the different variation that is continuously experienced in the domesticated species each and every day. This case spreads way beyond this case of study and may as well cove other animals that have been considered difficult to study and even other species like plants and more animals (Largent, 14-28).
It is essential to consider that the continued and endless variation in most organisms and the effect which is considered powerful in both domesticated and wild animals, further considering the flexibility of the different species in life struggle, Darwin notes that, the realities in the state of nature clearly affects both animals and plants. As most of the variations present in animals that are domesticated, most of these variations are a result of human doing and is essential even in the survival of the battle of the life of the particular species. It is also important to note that human beings with the much brilliance that they have continued to garner over several centuries, they would be involved in enhancing variations in both the wild and domesticated animals to fit their expectations, this is essential especially as each of these animals have been proved to be of importance in one way or another in the welfare of the human beings.
In conclusion, the issue of whether the domesticated animals came from the wild ancestors as a result of natural evolution would be a matter of continued discussion over the next several centuries, by Darwin has had some convincing arguments that are plausible. The act of crossing which may have been done either knowingly or unknowingly may have resulted to too many variations, and this may have resulted to the domesticated animals not originating solely from the ancestor species.
Work Cited
Largent A., Darwin’s Analogy between Artificial and Natural Selection in the Origin
of Species: Cambridge Collections, Cambridge University Press, 2009, pp 14-28.
