B6- Selective Breeding Flashcards
What is selective breeding?
The process of breeding organisms with desirable traits to produce offspring with those traits
Selective breeding is also known as ‘artificial selection’.
List some examples of traits that can be enhanced through selective breeding.
- Animals that produce more meat or milk
- Crops with disease resistance
- Dogs with a good, gentle temperament
- Decorative plants with big or unusual flowers
What is the basic process of selective breeding?
1) Select organisms with desired characteristics
2) Breed them together
3) Select the best offspring and breed them together
4) Repeat over several generations
What is the main drawback of selective breeding?
Reduction in the gene pool
This leads to inbreeding, which can cause health problems.
What is inbreeding?
Breeding closely related organisms, reducing genetic diversity
Inbreeding can result in harmful genetic defects.
How does selective breeding affect the gene pool?
It reduces the number of different alleles in a population
True or False: Selective breeding has been practiced for thousands of years.
True
What health problems can arise from inbreeding?
Increased chance of inheriting harmful genetic defects
Some dog breeds, like pugs, are particularly susceptible to health issues due to inbreeding.
Fill in the blank: Selective breeding can lead to less chance of any _______ alleles being present in the population.
resistant
What happens when a new disease appears in a population that has undergone selective breeding?
There is a high risk that all closely related organisms will succumb to the disease
Limited genetic variation increases vulnerability to diseases.
What is one agricultural application of selective breeding?
Improving meat yields by selecting and breeding the best animals for size and production characteristics
