Green Light

How humans'' aesthetic perceptions have shaped other life forms, from racehorses to ornamental plants.

Humans have bred plants and animals with an eye to aesthetics for centuries: flowers are selected for colorful blossoms or luxuriant foliage; racehorses are prized for the elegance of their frames. Hybridized plants were first exhibited as fine art in 1936, when the Museum of Modern Art in New Yor...