Inbreeding depression

Inbreeding depression is a phenomenon in biology that refers to the reduced biological fitness in a given population as a result of inbreeding, or breeding of related individuals. This process can lead to a decrease in the population's ability to survive and reproduce, which can have significant implications for the population's long-term survival.

Overview

Inbreeding depression is caused by the increased expression of deleterious recessive alleles due to inbreeding. This can lead to a decrease in the population's overall fitness, as individuals with these alleles are more likely to have reduced survival or reproductive success. Inbreeding depression can occur in both plants and animals, and is a major concern in conservation biology, particularly for species with small population sizes.

Causes

The primary cause of inbreeding depression is the increased expression of deleterious recessive alleles due to inbreeding. When related individuals mate, their offspring are more likely to inherit two copies of these alleles, which can lead to a decrease in fitness. Other factors that can contribute to inbreeding depression include a decrease in genetic diversity and an increase in the expression of harmful mutations.

Effects

The effects of inbreeding depression can be severe, and can include a decrease in survival and reproductive success, a decrease in the population's overall fitness, and an increased risk of extinction. In some cases, inbreeding depression can lead to the extinction of a population or species.

Prevention

Preventing inbreeding depression is a major focus of conservation biology. Strategies for preventing inbreeding depression include maintaining large population sizes, promoting gene flow between populations, and managing breeding programs to avoid inbreeding.

See also

• Conservation biology
• Genetic diversity
• Mutation

Inbreeding depression Resources
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