Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyApplications of Genetics in Medicine and Agriculture

Agricultural plant breeders often cross two genetically distinct inbred lines of maize to produce offspring that display superior growth rate, pest resistance, and crop yield compared to either parent. Which of the following biological terms best describes this application of genetics?

  1. Hybrid vigorAnswer
  2. B
    Inbreeding depression
  3. C
    Inheritance of acquired traits
  4. D
    Discontinuous variation

Answer

Hybrid vigor (heterosis) is the increased vigor, growth, and fertility of offspring resulting from crossing two genetically distinct inbred lines.
The term hybrid vigor (or heterosis) describes the phenomenon where the crossbred offspring of two distinct, homozygous inbred parental strains exhibit enhanced traits such as greater size, higher yield, and better disease resistance due to increased heterozygosity.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the genetic process described in the scenario
Two distinct inbred lines are crossed to create superior offspring.
Plant breeders deliberately combine diverse gene pools to mask harmful recessive alleles.
2
Match the process with its correct genetic term
The enhancement of performance in heterozygous offspring is termed hybrid vigor (heterosis).
Heterozygosity at multiple loci often leads to improved physiological performance over homozygous inbred parents.

Key Concept

Hybrid vigor (Heterosis) in crop and animal breeding
Rate this question

Topics

Applications of Genetics in Medicine and Agriculture

More questions from this topic