A-Z: Inbreeding

Inbreeding is  the mating of animals that are closely related, mother and son, sister and brother and is sometimes used to get desired characteristics in a particular breed. When the animals are related but not as closely, i.e. cousins or half sibs, this is considered line breeding. Inbreeding occurs not only in the pedigree world but in small, feral colonies as well, and is responsible for many genetic healthy issues, including the breathing problems of Persians.