What is the process called when organisms are bred for specific traits to produce offspring with identical traits?

The process of breeding organisms for specific traits to produce offspring with those identical traits is known as artificial selection. This method involves humans selecting which individuals to breed based on desired characteristics, such as size, color, or yield, thereby influencing the genetic makeup of future generations.

Artificial selection is a key technique employed in agriculture and animal husbandry to enhance particular traits that are beneficial for human use or preference. Over time, this practice can lead to significant changes in the traits of the organisms being bred, solidifying their characteristics in subsequent generations.

In contrast, natural selection is a process driven by environmental pressures where individuals best suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, particularly in small populations, and mutational breeding involves intentionally inducing mutations to generate new traits, which is a different process altogether from the selective breeding commonly described by artificial selection.