Final answer:
Genetic isolation and domestication began as a response to changing environmental conditions and the need for stable food resources that allowed human societies to grow. It involved the selective breeding of plants and animals to suit local conditions and human needs, leading to the establishment of more settled and complex communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic isolation and domestication likely began as a response to changing environmental conditions and human needs for stable food resources. Domestication of plants and animals went hand-in-hand with the birth of agriculture over 10,000 years ago. The process of selecting and breeding for specific traits in plants and animals has led to increased food production and stability of food resources, which in turn allowed human populations to grow and society to become more complex.
The domestication of certain crops, such as the diverse varieties of potatoes domesticated around 7,000 years ago in the Andes, illustrates how agricultural practices were tailored to local conditions. These practices were driven by geographic isolation, varied environmental conditions, and the necessity of adapting crops to different elevations and soil types. Meanwhile, the domestication of animals, using selective breeding to encourage traits like tameness and cooperation, allowed early human societies to become more settled, forming the basis for more complex social structures.