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.

Discuss the drawbacks of selective breeding.

How does a reduced gene pool affect a population?