GCSE Biology - Selective Breeding #77

Selective breeding involves choosing the best plants or animals to breed for desired traits. This practice has been used for thousands of years in agriculture to improve crops and livestock. The process involves selecting individuals with preferred characteristics and breeding them over multiple generations. However, selective breeding can reduce genetic diversity, leading to inbreeding and increased susceptibility to diseases. This is evident in certain dog breeds and crops, where a small gene pool can result in health issues and vulnerability to pathogens.

What is the primary goal of selective breeding?

• To eliminate all genetic variations

• To create entirely new species

• To enhance desired traits in future generations

• To increase the number of species in an ecosystem

Which of the following is NOT a reason for using selective breeding?

• To enhance milk production in cows

• To increase the genetic diversity of a population

• To create pets with friendly temperaments

• To produce crops resistant to diseases

What is the first step in the selective breeding process?

• Selecting individuals with desired traits

• Randomly choosing individuals to breed

• Breeding all available individuals

• Introducing new species into the population

What is a major drawback of selective breeding?

• It eliminates all diseases

• It leads to a more diverse population

• It increases the gene pool

• It can cause inbreeding and health issues

Why might a small gene pool be problematic for a population?

• It reduces variation, making the population vulnerable to new threats

• It ensures all individuals are identical

• It makes the population more resistant to diseases

• It increases the likelihood of beneficial mutations