Which breeding method focuses on selecting specific parents for desirable offspring traits?

Selective breeding is a method that involves deliberately choosing parent organisms with specific desirable traits to produce offspring that also exhibit these traits. This process enhances the probability of inheriting those desirable characteristics, whether they pertain to size, growth rate, resistance to disease, or other traits deemed beneficial in agriculture or horticulture.

The technique is rooted in understanding genetic variation and inheritance, enabling breeders to combine traits from different individuals strategically. By focusing on the selected traits, breeders can significantly improve populations over successive generations.

Hybridization and crossbreeding can also contribute to trait selection but often involve combining genetic material from different species or varieties without the same level of specificity in trait selection as seen in selective breeding. Natural selection is a process that occurs without human intervention, where the environment naturally selects for traits that are advantageous for survival. This method differs from the intentional and systematic approach seen in selective breeding, where human decision-making is crucial.