Final answer:
Genetics, through the branch of genomics in agriculture, is utilized to create plants and animals with optimal traits. It enables the development of hybrid breeds with improved disease resistance and environmental adaptability, and facilitates the production of genetically modified organisms to bolster agricultural productivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetics is vastly applied in the field of agricultural animals, a practice often referred to as genomics in agriculture. This scientific domain offers numerous benefits and enhancements ranging from the production of plants and animals with optimal traits to improved disease resistance and better adaptability to environmental stresses.
Using genetic markers, genomics enables scientists and farmers to create hybrid strains of crops and livestock, reinforcing desirable characteristics such as yield size, nutritional value, and resilience against pests and droughts. In the case of livestock, genetics can also pave the way for transgenic animals, which are those that have had specific genes introduced into their DNA to produce desired outcomes like producing human proteins in milk. A critical aspect of genomics in this setting is the ability to identify and replicate positive traits, leading to enhanced crop and animal breeds. With advancements in genetic engineering, agricultural production has seen the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that significantly aid in feeding the growing global population.