Final answer:
Consanguinity in pedigree analysis is the mating between closely related individuals, or inbreeding, which can lead to inbreeding depression and reduced genetic diversity, impacting the health and adaptability of populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
In pedigree analysis, consanguinity refers to the mating between closely related individuals. It is also known as inbreeding. This practice can have several negative effects including inbreeding depression, which refers to the increase in abnormalities and diseases in inbred populations. When closely related individuals mate, there is a higher chance that offspring will receive identical copies of deleterious alleles, leading to harmful phenotypes. This is because close relatives may carry the same rare, harmful mutations, and inbreeding increases the likelihood that these mutations will be paired and expressed.
A breeder would avoid inbreeding as it prevents gene flow and can dilute desired genes in the population. It is important to maintain genetic diversity as it provides a population with a wider range of traits which may be beneficial for survival and adaptation to changing environments. Genetic diversity is crucial for the health and resilience of populations.