Final answer:
The significance of humans first applying genetics to the domestication of plants and animals is the development of new species with desirable traits, the boost in permanent settlements, population growth, and the advancement of civilizations.Option 2 is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Humans first applied genetics to the domestication of plants and animals between approximately 10,000 and 12,000 years ago by selecting and breeding individuals with desirable traits. This selective breeding led to the domestication and genetic modification of various plants and animals. Through this process, new plant and animal species were developed with traits beneficial to humans, such as larger crop yields or more docile animals. This agricultural revolution allowed for the establishment of permanent settlements and a shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture and herding as primary forms of sustenance.
As a consequence, populations grew and civilizations advanced. However, the process also had downsides, such as the potential extinction of certain species and an increase in diseases due to closer quarters and consistent contact with animals.
Between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago, humans initiated genetic applications in plant and animal domestication. Selective breeding for desirable traits catalyzed the domestication and genetic modification of diverse species, yielding crops with higher yields and animals with docility. This agricultural revolution facilitated settled lifestyles, transitioning from nomadic hunting to agriculture and herding. Population growth and civilization advancement ensued, although drawbacks surfaced. Species extinction and heightened disease risks emerged due to prolonged human-animal proximity. Despite challenges, genetic interventions shaped human societies, ushering in an era where agriculture and herding became primary sustenance sources, transforming societal structures and paving the way for human development.