S9: Selective Breeding

Question 1

What is selective breeding?

Answer 1

The process by which humans breed animals and plants with desirable characteristics - for usefulness or appearance

Question 2

Describe the process of selective breeding.

Answer 2

1. selection of desired characteristics by humans
2. breed male and female with desired characteristics
3. selection of offspring showing desired characteristics and breeding them
4. Repeat the process over many generations until the allele for desired characteristic increases in frequency.

Question 3

What are some common desired characteristics within selective breeding?

Answer 3

Disease resistance in crops

Animals which produce more meat or milk

Domestic dogs with a gentler nature

Large or unusual flowers

Question 4

What are the advantages of selective breeding?

Answer 4

Plants: Increased crop yield, increased resistance to disease and insects, grows on land that is not suitable for them

Animals: Higher yield of useful products to humans

Question 5

What are the disadvantages of selective breeding?

Answer 5

reduces the genetic variation in the population
which may reduce the ability to survive and respond to changes in the environment.

May lead to the accumulation of harmful characteristics

Question 6

What are the differences between selective breeding and Natural selection?

Answer 6

Selective breeding:
doesn’t involve survival of the fittest.
the characteristics don’t necessarily benefit humans,
it’s quicker