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inbreeding

[ in-bree-ding ]
/ ˈɪnˌbri dɪŋ /

noun Biology.

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.

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Origin of inbreeding

First recorded in 1835–45; inbreed + -ing1

Words nearby inbreeding

inbounds line, inbox, inbreathe, inbred, inbreed, inbreeding, inbreeding depression, in brief, inbuilt, in bulk, inby
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for inbreeding

Medical definitions for inbreeding

inbreeding
[ ĭn′brē′dĭng ]

n.

homogamy
The continued breeding of closely related individuals so as to preserve desirable traits in a stock.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for inbreeding

inbreeding
[ ĭn′brē′dĭng ]

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.