Inbreeding - GCSE Biology Definition

Inbreeding is the process where closely related plants or animals breed with each other. This means that they have offspring together, like family members such as siblings or cousins. Inbreeding can lead to a higher chance of getting genetic problems because there is less variety in their genes. This happens because closely related individuals have more of the same genes, which can increase the risks of certain inherited diseases or weaknesses. In nature, inbreeding is usually avoided because mixing genes from different parents helps living organisms survive better in various environments.