What effect can inbreeding have on a population's genetic health?

Inbreeding can significantly impact a population's genetic health by increasing the likelihood of offspring inheriting genetic defects. This occurs because inbreeding reduces genetic diversity, leading to a higher probability that alleles, particularly those associated with deleterious traits, will be passed down. When closely related individuals mate, they are more likely to share identical alleles, including harmful recessive alleles.

As a result, offspring from inbred pairings have a greater chance of expressing these genetic defects, which can manifest as various health issues or reduced fitness. This effect is known as inbreeding depression, where the overall vigor and adaptability of a population decrease due to the accumulation of harmful genetic traits. Therefore, while genetic diversity within a population tends to support resilience and adaptability, inbreeding can severely compromise these qualities by magnifying the risk of inheriting and expressing detrimental traits.