4.6.2.3 Selective breeding

Question 1

Explain the impact of selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals.

Answer 1

• Because of selective breeding, future generations of selectively bred plants and animals will all share very similar genes which will reduce variation

Question 2

What is selective breeding (artificial selection)?

Answer 2

• The process by which humans breed plants and animals for a particular genetic characteristics humans have been doing this for thousands of years since they were spread food crops from wild plants and domesticated animals

Question 3

What does selective breeding involve?

Answer 3

• Choosing parents with the desired characteristics from a mixed population
• They are bred together from the offspring - Those with the desired characteristics are bred together
• This continues over many generations until all the offspring show the desired characteristics

Question 4

What characteristic can be chosen for usefulness or appearance?

Answer 4

• Disease resistance in food crops
• Animals which produce more meat or milk
• Domestic dogs with a gentle nature
• Large or unusual flowers

Question 5

What negatives can selective breeding lead to?

Answer 5

• “Inbreeding” where some breeds are particularly prone to disease or inherited defects
• Reduces a gene pull (collection of different alleles in a population) of the population