selective breeding

• What is selective breeding?

  Breeding the best plants or animals together
• Why do humans use selective breeding?

  To get better offspring with desired traits
• How long have humans been using selective breeding?

  Thousands of years
• What is agriculture?

  A fancy term for farming
• For what traits do we selectively breed cows?

  For meat and milk production
• What types of plants are selectively bred?

  Plants with large or unusual flowers
• What is the first step in selective breeding?

  Selecting individuals with desired characteristics
• What happens after selecting the best plants?

  They are bred together for the next generation
• How does selective breeding affect the gene pool?

  It reduces the gene pool of the population
• What is a gene pool?

  The collection of all alleles in a population
• What is the consequence of repeated selective breeding?

  It leads to a smaller pool of alleles
• What is inbreeding?

  Breeding closely related individuals
• Why are certain dog breeds prone to health conditions?

  Due to a small gene pool from inbreeding
• What risk does a small gene pool pose to crops?

  Increased vulnerability to diseases
• What could happen if a new pathogen infects a crop with a small gene pool?

  The entire crop could be lost
• What are the steps involved in selective breeding?

  1. Identify individuals with desired traits
  2. Breed selected individuals together
  3. Evaluate offspring for desired traits
  4. Repeat the process over generations
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of selective breeding?

  Advantages:

  • Improved traits in offspring
  • Increased productivity

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Reduced gene pool
  • Increased risk of inbreeding
  • Vulnerability to diseases
• what is an allele?


  an allele is a variant form of a gene that determines a specific trait or characteristic