An Evolutionary Journey through Domestication

Barbara Schaal, Mary-Dell Chilton Distinguished Professor of Biology and Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis
As the earliest farmers began to select wild plants and animals that had desirable traits, they initiated a series of genetic changes in these species that gradually made them more suitable for agriculture. Plants became easier to grow, had greater yields, and were of higher quality. Animal species exhibited favorable changes in behavior, coat color, and reproductive traits. Barbara Schaal discussed how the artificial selection of these species-a pivotal technological achievement-has influenced their genetics, evolution, and capacity to flourish in the care of humans.
Evolution Matters Lecture Series • Tenth Anniversary
Series supported by a generous gift from Drs. Herman and Joan Suit
Recorded October 10, 2019