Selective Breeding Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding is when humans artificially select the plants or animals that are going to breed so that the genes for particular characteristics remain in the population.
What is another term for selective breeding?
Artificial selection
What is the basic process involved in selective breeding? List the steps.
- Select the existing stock with desired characteristics
- Breed them with each other
- Select the best of the offspring
- Continue this process over several generations
What are 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
- Plants that produce bigger fruit
How long have humans been practicing selective breeding?
For thousands of years
How does selective breeding benefit agriculture?
It allows farmers to select animals with better characteristics for producing meat, improving meat yields.
In what way is selective breeding used in medical research?
Rats have been bred with strong or weak preferences for alcohol to compare differences in behavior and brain function.
What is a major disadvantage of selective breeding?
It reduces the gene pool, which leads to inbreeding.
What is inbreeding?
Inbreeding is when closely related individuals breed, reducing genetic diversity.
What health problems can arise from inbreeding?
Inbreeding can cause health problems due to inheriting harmful genetic defects, such as heart disease in boxer dogs.
What is a potential risk associated with a limited gene pool in selective breeding?
There is less chance of resistance alleles being present, making the population vulnerable to new diseases.
True or False: Selective breeding increases genetic variation in a population.
False
Fill in the blank: Selective breeding is important in agriculture because it allows for the improvement of _______.
meat yields
