selective breeding

• selective breeding (artificial selection)

  • the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics
• inbreeding

  • selective breeding can lead to 'inbreeding' where some breeds are particularly prone to disease or inherited defects
• process of selective breeding

  1. choose parents with correct characteristics from the population
  2. breed them together
  3. choose the offspring with the desired characteristics and breed them together
  4. continue over many generations
• examples of desired characteristics

  • disease resistance in food crops
  • animals which produce more meat or milk
  • domestic dogs with a gentle nature
  • large or unusual flowers