# Human selection (breeding) and evolution

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-selection-breeding-and-evolution/927060>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 3, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-selection-breeding-and-evolution/927060 "2020-12-03T02:14:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-selection-breeding-and-evolution/927060/21 "2020-12-09T19:50:00Z")

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I’ve certainly had cow-orkers that were just as useful as the office’s decorative plants. And after a few weeks, just as invisible.

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [December 9, 2020, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/human-selection-breeding-and-evolution/927060/22 "2020-12-09T21:07:05Z")

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> [@3AxisCtrl](#):
>
> > [@dtilque](#):
> >
> > You’d think dandelions would have evolved to grow flat to avoid lawnmowers.
> 
> I doubt lawnmowers are responsible, but note that dandelions are impressively good at coping with grass-cutting. The mower cuts the flowers (nicely dispersing any seeds that have formed) but does close to zero damage to the low-lying, nearly flat leaves and the roots of the plant itself. Under favorable conditions, new flowers will be springing up the next morning.

And they’ll be lower to the ground than they would be otherwise: something you’re unlikely to notice unless you ordinarily see dandelions growing where they don’t get mowed. They do get taller.

A number of plants will set seed at a relatively tall height if left to grow undisturbed, but if they get mowed will try again at a lower height. I’ve seen redroot amaranth setting seed almost at ground level, where it’s been mowed.

I doubt this is a response specifically to human mowing, however; my guess is that it’s originally a response to grazing.

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