inbreeding

inbreeding /in·breed·ing/ (-brēd-ing) the mating of closely related individuals or of individuals having closely similar genetic constitutions.

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in·breed·ing (nbrdng)

n.

1. See homogamy.

2. The continued breeding of closely related individuals so as to preserve desirable traits in a stock.

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inbreeding

[in′brēding]

Etymology: L, in, within; AS, bredan, to reproduce

the production of offspring by the mating of closely related organisms, the most extreme form being self-fertilization, which occurs in certain plants and animals. Inbreeding increases the chance that recessive alleles for both desirable and undesirable traits will become homozygous and be expressed phenotypically. In humans the amount of inbreeding in a specific population is largely controlled by tradition and cultural practices. Inbreeding is a standard agricultural method for developing desirable genotypes and pure lines in plants and animals. Compare outbreeding.

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inbreeding [in´brēd-ing]

the mating of closely related individuals or of individuals having closely similar genetic constitutions.

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inbreeding,

n the production of offspring by the mating of closely related individuals, organisms, or plants; self-fertilization is the most extreme form, which normally occurs in certain plants and lower animals. The practice provides a greater chance for recessive genes for both desirable and undesirable traits to become homozygous and to be expressed phenotypically.

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inbreeding

the mating of closely related organisms or of organisms having closely similar genetic constitutions.

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inbreeding coefficient

the probability that the two genes present at a locus in that individual are identical by descent.

inbreeding depression

depression of performance caused by inbreeding.