Positive Aspects of Hybridization - Essay Example

The three times hybridization of the prairie sunflower with the common sunflower that results in the generation of three different types of sunflowers, namely the puzzle sunflower, the desert sunflower, and the sand sunflower is one good example. (Carroll, 2010). In this case, it has been possible to make the hybrids survive in extreme weather conditions that the parent sunflowers did not have the ability to. It has been discovered through research that the sand sunflower and the puzzle sunflower can grow in dune and salty habitat respectively while the parent sunflowers can not.

It is not only about survival, the hybrids can actually germinate and grow in areas which were harsh towards their parents in terms of extremity of habitat conditions. Thus, one potential advantage of hybridization is that it can be chosen as a means to ensure the sustainability of various plant and animal species.Negative aspects of hybridization:Manual hybridization of animal and plant species can cause the parent species to develop hybrids with various genetic disorders that include but are not limited to the increased susceptibility of the hybrid to acquiring diseases, impotence, and shortened life periods.

This causes such hybrids as mules (hybrids of horse and donkey) and zorses (hybrids of horses and zebras) to become extinct as they are not equipped with the tendency to prolong their generation. Besides, it is also not justifiable from an ethical point of view in that such animals and plants suffer from infertility, and there is little awareness of the medication that suits them when they require treatment for their frequently acquired diseases. Effects of hybridization on the next generations:Hybridization of animals can cause many more challenges for the future generations as compared to the hybridization of plants particularly because disorders with the former are more obvious and severe as compared to the latter.

Besides, there is little to no usability of the inter-breeding of animals. Although it might be possible to sustain zorses and wholphins in extreme conditions, yet the idea sounds meaningless given they are infertile. In addition to that, the genetic disorders existent in the hybrids are not quite welcoming to the psychological health of future generations.