Interbred

The term 'interbred' describes the act of animals or plants of different varieties or species mating and producing offspring. This results in a hybrid offspring, inheriting genetic material from both parent organisms. The practice is often used in agriculture and animal husbandry to introduce desired traits, such as disease resistance or improved yield, or to combine the strengths of different lineages. Interbreeding can also occur naturally, leading to the diversification of gene pools and evolutionary changes. However, excessive interbreeding within a limited gene pool, often termed inbreeding, can have negative consequences, such as the increased expression of recessive genetic disorders.

Interbred meaning with examples

• The farmer decided to **interbreed** his prize-winning Angus cattle with a breed known for its hardiness to improve the herd's overall health and resilience against local diseases, hoping for stronger, more adaptable calves. This strategic pairing aimed to create a hybrid offspring that was both robust and high-quality, maintaining superior meat production levels.
• Zoologists studying the island's unique bird species noted evidence that, due to habitat loss, the isolated populations were beginning to **interbreed**, threatening the genetic integrity of the distinct subspecies. The observation caused concern amongst the scientists as they were afraid the unique traits might be lost during the process of hybridization of the birds.
• In an effort to cultivate a new variety of rose with exceptional fragrance and color, the botanists planned to **interbreed** two existing species with the target traits. The goal was to create a hybrid plant, using selective breeding practices, that would embody the best qualities of both parent plants, producing a stunning new rose variety.
• Genetic analysis revealed that the wild wolf population had begun to **interbreed** with domestic dogs due to human encroachment, leading to concerns about the dilution of the wolves' wild characteristics and potential implications for their social behavior and survival within their natural habitat. This genetic mixing was monitored by researchers.
• The conservation program aimed to prevent the endangered panda population from **interbreeding** with the less threatened black bear population. The main aim was to maintain the genetic purity of the pandas as the genetic mixing of species in this scenario, would threaten the pandas already precarious chances of survival.