Selective Breeding — GCSE Biology Revision
Revise Selective Breeding for GCSE Biology. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Genetic EngineeringWhat is Selective Breeding?
Selective breeding, also known as artificial selection, is the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. Humans select individuals with the desired traits and breed them together over many generations to produce offspring with enhanced characteristics, such as disease resistance in crops or gentle temperament in dogs.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The process, benefits, and risks (especially inbreeding) are all key areas.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
To produce a cow that yields a high volume of milk, a farmer would select a bull and a cow from their herd that have the characteristic of high milk production. They would breed these two individuals together. From the offspring, they would again select those with the highest milk yield and breed them. Repeating this process over several generations will lead to a herd of cows with a much higher average milk yield.
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Common mistakes
- 1Confusing selective breeding with genetic engineering. Selective breeding works with the existing genetic variation within a species, while genetic engineering involves directly altering an organism's DNA, sometimes by introducing genes from another species.
- 2Thinking it is a fast process. Selective breeding takes many generations to achieve the desired outcome, often spanning many years or decades.
- 3Ignoring the downsides. Inbreeding, a consequence of selective breeding, can lead to a reduction in the gene pool and an increased chance of individuals inheriting genetic defects and being prone to specific diseases.
Selective Breeding exam questions
Exam-style questions for Selective Breeding with mark-scheme style solutions and timing practice. Aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP specifications.
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Selective Breeding
Core concept
Selective breeding, also known as artificial selection, is the process by which humans breed plants and animals for particular genetic characteristics. Humans select individuals with the desired trait…
Frequently asked questions
What is the main purpose of selective breeding?
The main purpose is to develop organisms with features that are useful or desirable to humans. This includes increasing food production (e.g., high-yield wheat), creating docile domestic animals, or producing flowers with unusual colours.
What are the risks of selective breeding?
The main risk is inbreeding, which reduces genetic diversity. This can make populations more susceptible to new diseases and can lead to an accumulation of harmful recessive alleles, causing health problems.