Breeders selecting traits to pass on to the next generation exemplifies which practice?

• A. Descent with modification
• B. Selective breeding
• C. Embryology
• D. Natural selection

Answer: (B)

Selective breeding is the intentional choice of which individuals reproduce based on traits we want to pass on. By selecting parents with desirable features—like faster growth, sweeter fruit, or calmer temperament—breeders increase how often those traits appear in future generations, shaping populations over time. This is artificial selection, a human-directed form of evolution. It differs from natural selection, where the environment—not people—drives which individuals leave offspring. Descent with modification describes the general pattern that populations change across generations, but the specific practice of choosing mates to propagate certain traits is best described as selective breeding. Embryology, meanwhile, is the study of embryo development and not about breeding practices.