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Inbreeding refers to the mating of closely related individuals. This practice is common in agriculture and animal husbandry to maintain desirable traits within a lineage. In many species, inbreeding can lead to a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. This occurs when the offspring inherit a higher proportion of deleterious recessive alleles from their parents, potentially leading to reduced fertility, viability, or other negative traits. The increased homozygosity associated with inbreeding exposes these recessive alleles, making their effects more pronounced.

In contrast, inbreeding can also be used to fix specific genetic traits, making them more uniform within a population. This is a key strategy in selective breeding programs for livestock and crops, where breeders aim to amplify beneficial characteristics. However, the risks of inbreeding depression must be carefully managed through careful selection and monitoring of breeding programs.

In natural populations, inbreeding can occur when population sizes become small, or when individuals have limited dispersal options. This can lead to a decline in genetic diversity within the population, making it more vulnerable to environmental changes or diseases. Conservation efforts for endangered species often involve strategies to minimize inbreeding and maintain genetic variation. The precise genetic and evolutionary consequences of inbreeding depend on the specific species, the degree of relatedness between individuals, and the presence of deleterious alleles within the population.