Inbreeding

Inbreeding refers to any breeding technique in which the parents are related to each other. The most intensive form of inbreeding is selfing or self-pollination in which both parents are the same plant. Inbreeding is used to increase the number of homozygous genes. It reduces the amount of genetic diversity and can accentuate both positive and negative traits. Inbreeding can involve random or selected parents, and this would have an effect on the development of homozygosity. See also: Linebreeding, back cross.

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