Selective Breeding
Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Selective Breeding is a process in which individuals of a species are chosen by humans for reproduction to pass on certain characteristics to their offspring.
About Selective Breeding
- Selective Breeding is what has led to the features of all cultivated plants and many domesticated animals.
- Selective Breeding causes evolution of a population.
- Selective Breeding works by selecting individuals in a species with desirable characteristics and breeding them with one another. It may also involve killing individuals with undesirable characteristics in order to prevent them from reproducing.
- Over many generations selective breeding can cause significant changes to a population.
Individuals may be selected for a number of reasons:
- A good temperament - Animals that are calm and not aggressive.
- A high yield - Individuals that produce a large amount of a desired product, eg milk, wool, fruit.
- Appearance - Individuals that are aesthetically pleasing, eg flowers, pets.
- Resistant to Disease - Individuals that are not affected by certain diseases.
Extra Information
References
AQA
- Artificial selection (selective breeding), pages 48-9, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA '
- Artificial selection, page 279, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA'
Edexcel
- Artificial selection, page 62, GCSE Combined Science, Pearson Edexcel
- Artificial selection, page 84, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
References
AQA
- Selective breeding (artificial selection), pages 48-9, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 2, Hodder, AQA
- Selective breeding, page 296-9, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Selective breeding, page 77, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Selective breeding, page 98, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, AQA
- Selective breeding, pages 179, 200-1, GCSE Biology, Hodder, AQA
- Selective breeding, pages 200, 222-223, GCSE Biology; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Selective breeding, pages 238, 239, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy; Biology, CGP, AQA
- Selective breeding, pages 292, 293, GCSE Biology, CGP, AQA
Edexcel
- Selecting breeding; risks, page 88, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
- Selective breeding, page 36, GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Selective breeding, page 50, GCSE Biology; The Revision Guide, CGP, Edexcel
- Selective breeding, page 84, GCSE Biology, Pearson, Edexcel
- Selective breeding, pages 140, 141, GCSE Biology, CGP, Edexcel