Question

With the help of any two suitable examples explain the effect of anthropogenic actions on organic evolution.

Answer 1

Anthropogenic activities have caused increased rate of organic evolution.

For example:

(i) The excess use of herbicides and pesticides in the agricultural field by the humans to kill pests and insects has resulted in selection of resistant variety of pests and insects over a short time span. The change favored resistant pests and insects which lead to their evolution

(ii) The excess use of antibiotics has caused selection of drug resistant microbes. The microbes sensitive to antibiotics died but few variants having resistance against it survived. This led to evolution of more fatal microbes.