What does inbreeding involve?

Inbreeding involves the mating of closely related individuals, which can occur within a family or among individuals of the same breed. This practice leads to a higher likelihood of offspring inheriting similar genetic material from both parents, which can amplify specific traits or characteristics within a population. While inbreeding can help maintain certain desirable traits, it also increases the risk of genetic disorders and can reduce overall genetic diversity.

The other options focus on processes that are not related to inbreeding. Introducing new genetic material into a population is known as outbreeding, which aims to enhance genetic diversity and vigor. Hybridization between different species results in a mix of traits from both species and is a separate process focused on species-level crosses. The generation of genetically modified organisms involves altering the DNA of an organism using biotechnology, which is quite distinct from the natural mating processes associated with inbreeding. Thus, the definition of inbreeding aligns directly with the mating of closely related individuals.