5 Selective Breeding Flashcards
What are the steps taken to select a particular feature in an organism?
choose individuals with the desired feature
let only these individuals reproduce
choose the offspring that have desired feature
let only these individuals reproduce
repeat over many generations
E.g. what would you do if you wanted a variety of cow that produced lots of milk?
select cows in herd that produce most milk
let only these cows reproduce
select offspring that produce most milk
let only these individuals reproduce
repeat over many generations
What is the key to success in selective breeding?
don’t allow individuals with undesirable features to breed
What can selective breeding produce?
hens that lay big eggs of particular colour
cattle that produce lots of milk
tomato plants that produce lots of tomatoes
crops that are resistant to certain plant diseases
Inbreeding:
reduces variation
reduces likelihood of population surviving if new disease was introduced
more recessive disease would come out