Selective breeding, also called artificial selection, is the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. People have done this for thousands of years, ever since they first bred food crops from wild plants and domesticated animals.
The method starts with a mixed population. Parents with the desired characteristic are chosen and bred together. From their offspring, those with the desired characteristic are chosen and bred together again. This is repeated over many generations until all the offspring show the desired characteristic.
The characteristic may be chosen for its usefulness or its appearance. Examples are disease resistance in food crops, animals that produce more meat or milk, domestic dogs with a gentle nature, and large or unusual flowers.
Selective breeding has a risk. Breeding closely related individuals together can lead to inbreeding, where some breeds become particularly prone to disease or inherited defects. Some people also raise ethical concerns about the health of the animals bred.
