Question

What is true about inbreeding?

Inbreeding helps to eliminate lethal characters.
Inbreeding depression negatively impacts productivity.
Inbreeding increases Hybrid Viguor.
Inbreeding increases genetic variance between lines.

• A. A, B and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, C and D
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

Inbreeding is a double-edged sword: it increases homozygosity, which is good for fixing desirable traits but bad due to the risk of inbreeding depression.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Let's analyze the statements:

A is True: Inbreeding increases homozygosity, which brings recessive lethal alleles to the surface, allowing them to be identified and eliminated from the breeding pool.
B is True: Inbreeding depression is a well-known consequence of inbreeding, leading to reduced fitness, fertility, and productivity.
C is False: Inbreeding \textit{reduces} vigor. Hybrid vigor (heterosis) is the result of \textit{outbreeding} or crossing different inbred lines.
D is True: While inbreeding reduces genetic variance \textit{within} a line (making them more uniform), it increases the genetic variance \textit{between} different inbred lines.
Therefore, statements A, B, and D are true.