inbreeding

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Definitions from WordNet

Noun inbreeding has 1 sense

inbreeding - the act of mating closely related individuals
--₁ is a kind of coupling, mating, pairing, conjugation, union, sexual union

Definitions from the Web

Inbreeding

Definition

Inbreeding refers to the mating of individuals who are closely related genetically, such as siblings or parent-offspring.

Sense 1: Genetics

In genetics, inbreeding is the act of breeding between individuals who share a high degree of similarity in their genetic makeup. It is commonly used in selective breeding to fix desirable traits within a population.

Sense 2: Animal Husbandry

In animal husbandry, inbreeding refers to the deliberate breeding of closely related animals to maintain or enhance specific traits within a population. However, excessive or prolonged inbreeding can lead to the expression of harmful recessive traits.

Sample sentence:

The breeder decided to practice inbreeding to ensure that the puppies possessed the desired coat color.

Sense 3: Human Society

In the context of human society, inbreeding may refer to the cultural practice of marrying within a close-knit community or family. It can be influenced by various factors like religion, tradition, or geographical isolation.

Sample sentence:

In some remote villages, inbreeding is still practiced due to the limited interaction with the outside world.