What is selective breeding also known as?

Selective breeding is also known as artificial selection because it involves the intentional mating of individuals with desired traits to produce offspring that exhibit those characteristics. This human-directed process contrasts with natural selection, where environmental factors influence which individuals are more likely to reproduce based on their traits. In artificial selection, breeders make deliberate choices about which plants or animals to breed, often based on traits such as size, color, or disease resistance.

Additionally, selective breeding differs from random mating, where there is no consideration for specific traits and any individuals in a population could mate with others. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, involves directly manipulating an organism’s DNA to achieve desired traits, rather than relying on controlled breeding practices. Therefore, referring to selective breeding as artificial selection highlights the human influence in the selection process.