A Matter of Selection

1. Based off of observations, Brassica Oleracea plants are most varied through the appearance of their leaves. My cauliflower plant had large round leaves surrounding the actual cauliflower within the middle. Many other Brassica Oleracea have different observations of their leaves. Collards, for example have large round leaves and Kale has medium sized and almost pointy leaves that vary in colors from purple to green.

2. Farmers selectively breed foods to create different options. The farmers or genetically modifying engineers are using a process called artificial selection, which is where humans alter which genes are passed onto the next organism or offspring. Many years ago, farmers worked together to select and breed natural variants of Brassica Oleracea to produce and emphasize different mutations. The results are descended from a common ancestor with modification.

3.  Besides the main differences with the leaves, Brassica's are nearly identical. Basically sisters, but not twins. Each plant has four petaled flowers that are yellow in color. Pollinators are attracted to yellow colors, which would make sense why farmers would use artificial selection to enhance that trait to ensure that their plant would reproduce and create offspring.

4. If a farmer wanted to change the yellow flowers on the plants they'd have to find a natural mutation or create one themselves that changes the phenotype of the flower. For this mutation to work, they'd have to make sure this occurred in the embryonic phase or in the gametes to ensure it's passed onto the offspring. The farmer would have to input the mutation into two plants to increase the odds of the mutation being passed on. Overtime, the offspring will have to reproduce, therefore creating large populations with this mutation. Eventually, the mutation will dominate and introduce the allele.