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
• What traits might be selected in cows through selective breeding?

  High meat or milk production
• What traits might be selected in crops through selective breeding?

  Disease resistance
• What traits might be selected in pets through selective breeding?

  Friendly behavior
• What traits might be selected in plants through selective breeding?

  Large or unusual flowers
• What is the first step in selective breeding?

  Select individuals with desired characteristics
• What happens after selecting individuals in selective breeding?

  Breed selected individuals together
• How often is selective breeding performed?

  Repeatedly over generations
• What is the impact of repeated selective breeding on plants?

  It leads to better, bigger, and juicier plants
• What is a gene pool?

  The collection of alleles in a population
• What happens to the gene pool during selective breeding?

  It reduces the variety of alleles
• What is the consequence of selecting for certain alleles?

  Smaller pool of alleles over time
• What is inbreeding?

  Breeding closely related individuals
• What are the risks of inbreeding?

  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 a potential risk for crops with a reduced gene pool?

  Vulnerability to new pathogens
• What could happen if a new pathogen infects a crop with low genetic diversity?

  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. Repeat the process over generations
  4. Aim for improved offspring with desired characteristics
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of selective breeding?

  Strengths:

  • Enhances desirable traits
  • Increases agricultural productivity
  • Creates specific breeds for purposes

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Reduces genetic diversity
  • Increases risk of inbreeding
  • Vulnerability to diseases and pathogens