Final answer:
Inbreeding refers to mating between closely related individuals. It can lead to a decrease in fitness of the offspring due to genetic incompatibility, deleterious mutations, and the expression of silent alleles.
Step-by-step explanation:
Inbreeding refers to mating between closely related individuals. This can result in a decrease in the fitness of the offspring compared to those of unrelated individuals. There are several reasons why inbreeding can lead to decreased fitness:
- Genetic incompatibility: Close relatives may carry similar genetic traits, leading to negative interactions or reactions in the offspring.
- Deleterious mutations: Inbreeding can bring together rare, harmful mutations that may lead to harmful phenotypes in the offspring.
- Expression of silent alleles: Inbreeding can cause normally silent alleles to be expressed, resulting in negative traits.