Question

Artificial selection can be used to produce new strains of animals that have favorable traits. Despite its usefulness, it would be difficult to use artificial selection to produce cows that produce their own antibiotics to protect themselves from disease. Why can't artificial selection be used for this purpose?

Answer 1

Because artificial evolution seeks to select phenotypic characteristics already existing in the species of animal being used.

Step-by-step explanation:

Artificial selection is the method that allows human beings to promote the crossing of animals of the same species, in order to obtain a preole with phenotypic characteristics favorable to human beings. However, for this type of crossing to be possible, it is necessary that the desired characteristics already exist in members of the selected species. In the case of the question above, there are no cows that produce antibiotics themselves, so it would be impossible to use artificial selection for this purpose.