Linebreeding is a form of which breeding approach that can be harmful in the long term because it may uncover deleterious genes?

• A. Inbreeding
• B. Outbreeding
• C. Crossbreeding
• D. Hybridization

Answer: (A)

Linebreeding concentrates the genes of a specific ancestor by mating related animals to keep that ancestor’s traits in the lineage. This is a form of inbreeding, though milder than mating close relatives. The long-term risk is increased homozygosity across the genome, which can reveal deleterious recessive genes and lead to problems with health, fertility, and overall vigor, while also reducing genetic diversity and adaptability. In contrast, outbreeding, crossbreeding, and hybridization aim to increase genetic diversity and vigor, reducing the chance of harmful gene expression. So, linebreeding is a form of inbreeding.