inbreeding

[ in-bree-ding ]

noun

, Biology.

1. the mating of closely related individuals, as cousins, sire-daughter, brother-sister, or self-fertilized plants, which tends to increase the number of individuals that are homozygous for a trait and therefore increases the appearance of recessive traits.

inbreeding

/ ĭn′brē′dĭng /

1. The breeding or mating of related individuals within an isolated or closed group of organisms or people. Inbreeding can result in inbreeding depression. However, in agriculture and animal husbandry, the continued breeding of closely related individuals can help to preserve desirable traits in a stock.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inbreeding¹

First recorded in 1835–45; inbreed + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In isolated populations like Sardinia’s, where inbreeding was common, such rare variants can become more frequent, a phenomenon called the founder effect.

From Science Magazine

"This is evidenced by a high level of inbreeding and a reduction in heterozygosity."

From Science Daily

This increases the risk of inbreeding, which could result in birth defects.

From BBC

"Fighting" and "inbreeding" were common because "animals were housed in inappropriate social groups", Jane said.

From BBC

Vickers believes these efforts could help address inbreeding among pumas in the Santa Anas that are hemmed in by the I-15.

From Los Angeles Times