Selective breeding

• Selective breeding (artificial selection) is the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic traits.
• Selective breeding involves choosing parents from a mixed population with the desired characteristic. They are bred together. From the offspring those with the desired characteristic are bred together. This continues over many generations until all the offspring show the desired characteristic.
• The trait can be chosen for usefulness or appearance.
• Selective breeding can lead to 'inbreeding' where some breeds are particularly prone to disease or inherited defects.