Here's a breakdown:
* Domestication of Animals: The earliest evidence of animal domestication dates back to around 10,000 years ago, with the domestication of dogs. This involves selecting animals with desirable traits for breeding, marking the beginning of selective breeding.
* Agriculture: The development of agriculture around the same period also led to the selection of plants with desirable traits, such as higher yields and better resistance to diseases.
* Early Civilizations: Civilizations like ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia developed advanced breeding techniques for both animals and crops, leading to significant improvements in food production and livestock quality.
While the exact timeline is difficult to pin down, selective breeding has been an integral part of human civilization for millennia. It has been essential for:
* Developing crops with higher yields and better nutritional value.
* Improving livestock breeds for meat, milk, wool, and other products.
* Creating new varieties of plants and animals with specific traits.
Even though the term "selective breeding" might be a recent one, the practice itself has been a fundamental aspect of human history and development for a very long time.