Explain the difference between selective breeding and genetic engineering in the development of food crops with desirable traits.

Selective breeding is the traditional method for improving crops and livestock, such as increasing disease resistance or milk yield.Genetic engineering is a faster way, which transplants genes for a desired characteristic into an organism. However, genetic engineering offers many potential benefits but carries the risk of unexpected harmful effects.

Selective breeding uses natural biological means to alter genetics--example is using a pollen from one strain to fertilize another strain and so "cross" the gene pools.  Genetic engineering artificially goes into the chromosomes to edit them--an unnatural process. Example--a cold water fish gene is put into a crop so that it won't freeze in the winter. This would not naturally occur.