Final answer:
Breeders are encouraged to maintain a Diverse and Healthy gene pool to prevent inbreeding depression and to ensure the long-term viability and health of a species. This is achieved by avoiding mating of close relatives and by promoting genetic variance. Option B is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
UKC breeders are encouraged to maintain a Diverse and Healthy gene pool. Breeders would not allow close relatives to mate because inbreeding can reduce genetic variance, resulting in a population with a greater susceptibility to inherited diseases and conditions due to the propagation of deleterious recessive mutations. This phenomenon is known as inbreeding depression.
The goal is to preserve phenotypic diversity and reduce the risks associated with such genetic issues. Additionally, maintaining genetic diversity is essential because it increases a population’s chances of surviving environmental changes, as species with greater genetic diversity are more likely to have traits that confer an advantage in new environments.
Selective breeding that aims for very specialized traits can lead to health problems. For instance, selective breeding directed at neotenic features, which are juvenile characteristics that persist into adulthood, could lead to a narrowed gene pool and increased risk of genetic disorders. A diverse and healthy gene pool is vital for the long-term viability and health of a species.