Selective Breeding
the human practice of breeding animals or plants that have certain desired traits
Selective breeding is a method used by humans to breed desired traits and characteristics into plants or animals. This process involves selecting and breeding individuals with specific genetic traits, which can be inherited by their offspring.
In plants, selective breeding involves selecting individuals with desired traits such as disease resistance, yield, quality, and growth rate, among others. Farmers and plant breeders use this process to create new plant varieties with more desirable traits than the existing ones. For instance, wheat varieties with higher yield and disease resistance have been developed through selective breeding techniques.
In animals, selective breeding involves selecting individuals with desirable physical and behavioral characteristics like size, temperament, and intelligence, among others. Animal breeders use this method to develop breeds with specific traits used in industries such as meat and milk production. For example, dairy cattle breeders select individuals with high milk production, which results in a breed that produces more milk than other breeds.
However, selective breeding has both advantages and disadvantages. Some of the benefits include increased productivity, hardiness, and better adaptation to environments, while the drawbacks include reduced genetic diversity, increased risk of diseases, and reduced fertility. Therefore, it is essential to use selective breeding appropriately to avoid any negative impacts.
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