Why Are Some Geneticists Trying to Create a Bigger Chicken?

A reason that some geneticists are trying to create a bigger chicken is to...

A) have each chicken produce more meat.

B) have slower chickens.

C) have ugly chickens.

D) have healthier chickens.

Final answer:

Geneticists aim to create bigger chickens to maximize meat production per bird, which increases production, improves nutrient utilization, and potentially enhances overall chicken health. So option (A) is correct.

Explanation:

The reason that some geneticists are trying to create a bigger chicken is to have each chicken produce more meat. Geneticists aim to satisfy the increasing demand for poultry by enhancing meat production per bird. By selecting for genes that promote larger sizes and better nutrient utilization, geneticists can create chickens that are larger and thus produce more meat, which has several benefits:

• Increased production: Chickens bred to be bigger are produced in higher numbers, which is economically beneficial for the poultry industry.
• Efficiency in nutrient utilization: Such chickens can utilize nutrients better, converting feed into muscle more efficiently, which results in being more cost-effective.
• Health improvements: These chickens can potentially be healthier if bred under optimal conditions, reducing the need for antibiotics and leading to better quality meat.

This selective breeding aligns with the broader goals of improving yield in agricultural practices, including improving resistance to diseases and creating new hybrid strains, as seen in the application of genomics in agriculture.