SELECTIVE BREEDING

IGCSE BIOLOGY NOTES

What is Selective Breeding?

Selective breeding is the process by which humans choose organisms with desirable characteristics and
breed them together so that these characteristics appear in their offspring.

It is also known as artificial selection because humans select the organisms that reproduce.

Selective breeding has been used for thousands of years to improve crops and livestock.

Why is Selective Breeding Carried Out?

Selective breeding is used to:

• Increase food production

• Improve the quality of crops
• Increase meat, milk or egg production
• Produce disease-resistant organisms
• Produce animals with desirable characteristics
• Improve the appearance of ornamental plants

Steps in Selective Breeding

Step 1

Identify individuals with desirable characteristics.

Step 2

Select these individuals as parents.

Step 3

Breed the selected parents together.

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Step 4

Choose the offspring showing the best characteristics.

Step 5

Breed these selected offspring together.

Step 6

Repeat the process for many generations.

Over time, the desired characteristic becomes more common in the population.

Examples of Selective Breeding in Plants

Crop Plants
Farmers selectively breed plants to produce:

Higher Yield

Plants produce more fruits, seeds or vegetables.

Disease Resistance

Plants are less affected by diseases.

Pest Resistance

Plants suffer less damage from insects.

Better Quality Produce

Larger fruits, improved taste and better nutritional value.

Greater Hardiness

Plants can survive difficult environmental conditions.

Brassica Plants
Many vegetables have been produced from a single wild Brassica species through selective breeding.

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 Vegetable Feature Selected

Cabbage Large terminal bud

Brussels sprouts Large side buds

Kale Large leaves

Broccoli Large flower stalks

Cauliflower Large flower clusters

Kohlrabi Enlarged stem

This demonstrates how selective breeding can produce different varieties from the same ancestor.

Examples of Selective Breeding in Animals

Animals are selectively bred to improve production and quality.

Dairy Cattle
Selected for:

• High milk production

• Good health
• Fast growth

Beef Cattle
Selected for:

• Large muscle mass

• Rapid growth
• High meat yield

Chickens
Selected for:

• Increased egg production

• Faster growth
• Disease resistance

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Sheep
Selected for:

• More wool
• Better quality wool
• Faster growth

Dogs and Selective Breeding

Modern dog breeds were developed through selective breeding.

Humans selected dogs with useful characteristics such as:

• Herding ability
• Hunting ability
• Guarding behaviour
• Obedience
• Companionship

Different breeds were produced by repeatedly breeding individuals with desired traits.

Advantages of Selective Breeding

1. Increased Food Production

Farmers obtain more food from crops and livestock.

2. Improved Quality

Animals and plants produce higher-quality products.

3. Disease Resistance

Some breeds are less likely to be affected by disease.

4. Faster Growth

Animals reach market size more quickly.

5. Economic Benefits

Higher productivity increases farmers' profits.

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6. Improved Appearance

Used to produce attractive flowers and ornamental plants.

Disadvantages of Selective Breeding

1. Reduced Genetic Variation

Only a small number of individuals are used for breeding.

As a result, genetic diversity decreases.

2. Increased Risk of Disease

If all individuals are genetically similar, a disease can spread rapidly through the population.

3. Inherited Health Problems

Some desirable traits may be linked to harmful genes.

Examples:

• Hip problems in dogs

• Breathing difficulties in some dog breeds

4. Less Ability to Adapt

Populations with low genetic variation may struggle to survive environmental changes.

Cloning in Plants
What is Cloning?
Cloning is the production of genetically identical organisms.

A clone has exactly the same genes as the parent organism.

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Plant Cuttings
A common method of cloning plants.

Method
1. A stem or side shoot is cut from the parent plant.
2. The cutting is placed in moist compost.
3. Roots develop.
4. A new plant grows.

The new plant is genetically identical to the parent.

Advantages of Cloning Plants

• Produces many identical plants quickly.
• Desirable characteristics are retained.
• Useful for plants that do not produce seeds easily.
• Large numbers of plants can be produced at low cost.

Micropropagation (Tissue Culture)

Micropropagation is a modern method of producing large numbers of identical plants.

Process
1. A small piece of plant tissue (explant) is removed.
2. It is placed on a nutrient medium.
3. Cells divide by mitosis.
4. Shoots and roots develop.
5. New plantlets are transferred to soil.

Advantages of Micropropagation
• Large numbers of plants can be produced quickly.
• Plants can be produced all year round.
• Useful for rare or endangered plants.
• All plants possess desirable characteristics.

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Key Definitions
Selective Breeding

The process of choosing organisms with desirable characteristics and breeding them together.

Artificial Selection

Another term for selective breeding.

Clone

An organism that is genetically identical to another.

Cloning

The production of genetically identical organisms.

Micropropagation

The production of many genetically identical plants from small pieces of plant tissue.

Genetic Variation

Differences in genes between individuals of the same species.

IGCSE Examination Tips

Be able to:

✓ Define selective breeding.

✓ Describe the steps involved in selective breeding.

✓ State examples of selective breeding in plants and animals.

✓ Explain the advantages of selective breeding.

✓ Explain the disadvantages of selective breeding.

✓ Define cloning and micropropagation.

✓ Describe how plant cuttings produce clones.

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✓ Compare selective breeding and cloning.

Summary
Selective breeding is the deliberate breeding of organisms with desirable characteristics. It is widely used in
agriculture to improve crop yield, animal productivity and disease resistance. Although selective breeding
can produce organisms with useful traits, it can also reduce genetic variation and increase the risk of
inherited disorders. Cloning and micropropagation are methods used to produce genetically identical
plants with desirable characteristics.