inbreeding

[ in-bree-ding ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

inbreeding

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.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of inbreeding¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

In many species, inbreeding can reduce health and fitness.

From

Genetics determines where they end up, to diminish the risks of inbreeding or disease.

From

Local cats have begun to show signs of inbreeding from the lack of genetic diversity, including kinked tails.

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Panthers stalking the Santa Monica Mountains are imperiled by inbreeding because of freeways that essentially lock them in — and visitors with needed genetic diversity out.

From

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

From

inbreed inbreeding depression

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