Inbreeding

Inbreeding is when closely related individuals, like siblings or parent and offspring, mate and reproduce. This increases the chance that their offspring will inherit the same genes from both parents, including potentially harmful recessive traits. While it can sometimes preserve desirable traits within a family or breed, inbreeding often leads to reduced genetic diversity, making the offspring more vulnerable to health problems and genetic disorders. It is a practice observed both in natural populations and human-managed breeding programs, and generally requires careful management to avoid negative health consequences.