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Selective breeding is a process where organisms that possess certain characteristics are purposely bred together in order for their offspring to obtain particular genetic traits.
Selective breeding began about 10,000 years ago, after the end of the last Ice Age. Hunter-gatherers began to keep flocks and herds and also cultivated cereals and other plants. This process of domestication was most likely stimulated by a combination of human population pressure and environmental stress caused by a rapid change in climate. Today, there are 4 main types of selective breeding in animals and 3 main types in plants.
These are listed in the Types tab.
Terms regarding selective breeding include:
Selective breeding began about 10,000 years ago, after the end of the last Ice Age. Hunter-gatherers began to keep flocks and herds and also cultivated cereals and other plants. This process of domestication was most likely stimulated by a combination of human population pressure and environmental stress caused by a rapid change in climate. Today, there are 4 main types of selective breeding in animals and 3 main types in plants.
These are listed in the Types tab.
Terms regarding selective breeding include:
- Cultigens / Cultivars / Varieties - the results of breeding plants
- Crossbreeds - the offspring of animals of different breeds when bred together
- Hybrids - the offspring of different kinds of plants when bred together
- Culling - the process of selective livestock based on desired criteria, and destroying the others
- Purebred - an organism which is the result of unmixed breeding
- Pedigree - purebreds with a recognisable lineage