Inbreeding: It refers to the mating (crossing) of closely related individuals within the same breed for 4-6 generations. Methodology:
The technique involves mating between superior males (bull) and superior females (cows producing more milk per lactation period) of the same breed that is selected and mated in pairs.
The progeny obtained as a result of mating are evaluated for superior characteristics.
Significance: Such a technique helps in obtaining progeny with homozygous nature and thus leads to the evolution of a pure line in any animal. It also exposes harmful recessive genes that are eliminated by selection and thus results in the accumulation of superior genes and the elimination of non-desirable genes. Disadvantage: The main disadvantage of this technique is that continued inbreeding, leads to a decrease in fertility of an organism. Such a phenomenon is called inbreeding depression.