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 purposes do we selectively breed animals and plants?

  For meat, milk, disease resistance, and pets
• What is the first step in selective breeding?

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

  They are bred together to produce offspring
• 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 happens to alleles during selective breeding?

  We select for certain alleles and discard others
• What is a potential risk of inbreeding in selective breeding?

  Increased susceptibility to diseases and defects
• Why are certain dog breeds prone to health conditions?

  Due to a small gene pool from inbreeding
• What is the consequence of a small gene pool in crops?

  Higher risk of losing entire crops to pathogens
• What are the steps involved in the process of selective breeding?

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

  Advantages:

  • Improved traits in plants and animals
  • Increased productivity and efficiency

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Reduced genetic diversity
  • Increased risk of diseases and defects