BIOL 350 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Frequency Distribution, Environmental Degradation, Plant Breeding
29 Nov 2014
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The problem is simple: too many people, too much stuff. Malthus: original: too many people (1766 1834) The benefit of producing more than one reproducing offspring (high fitness) is always enjoyed exclusively by the parent. No matter how crowded there will always be a benefit to parents that produce more than replacement. Freedom to breed will bring ruin to all hardin: 1 out of every 7 people is starving at preset day. Ehrlich: we are living on a lifeboat and there is no room for more. Our history of solutions that just create more solutions. Increase crop yields ( green revolution plant breeding ad use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides) lead to Genetically modified agriculture ( biotechnology revolution) and reduced dependence on chemical inputs may lead to Whatever your cause, it will be a lost cause without population control - paul ehrlich population has increased 7x in the last 300 years.
