inbreeding

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inbreeding Mating of two closely blood-related organisms. It is the opposite of outbreeding and over successive generations causes much less variation in genotype (genetic makeup) and phenotype (physical characteristics) than is normal in a wild population. A form of genetic engineering, it can be used to improve breeds in domestic plants and animals. In humans, it can have harmful results, such as the persistence of haemophilia in some European royal families.

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