Students should be able to explain the impact of selective breeding of food plants and domesticated animals. • Selective breeding involves choosing parents with the desired characteristic from a mixed population. They are bred together. From the offspring those with the desired characteristic are bred together. This continues over many generations until all the offspring show the desired characteristic. • The characteristic can be chosen for usefulness or appearance: Disease resistance in food crops. Animals which produce more meat or milk. Domestic dogs with a gentle nature. Large or unusual flowers. • Selective breeding can lead to 'inbreeding' where some breeds are particularly prone to disease or inherited defects.