Inbreeding

Definition

Inbreeding is the mating of closely related individuals within a population. It increases homozygosity and can lead to a higher chance of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Inbreeding increases the probability of offspring being homozygous for specific traits.
2. It can lead to inbreeding depression, where fitness and survival rates decrease due to increased expression of harmful recessive alleles.
3. Inbreeding reduces genetic diversity within a population, making it more susceptible to diseases and environmental changes.
4. Populations that undergo inbreeding may show reduced adaptability over generations.
5. Conservation biology often aims to prevent inbreeding in small populations to maintain genetic health.

Review Questions

• What is the primary genetic consequence of inbreeding?
• How does inbreeding affect a population's genetic diversity?
• What is inbreeding depression and how does it impact a population?

Related terms

Genetic Drift: A mechanism of evolution that results from random changes in allele frequencies, especially in small populations.

Homozygosity: The condition of having two identical alleles for a particular gene.

Gene Flow: The transfer of genetic material between separate populations which can increase genetic diversity.