What method refers to the continued breeding of individuals with similar characteristics?

Inbreeding refers to the continued breeding of individuals that share similar characteristics or traits. This method is often used to enhance specific qualities within a population by consistently mating organisms with desirable traits. Inbreeding can be beneficial for establishing certain features in plants and animals, particularly in agriculture or breeding programs, as it helps to maintain and amplify specific genetic characteristics.

While selectively breeding also involves choosing specific traits to propagate within a population, it does not require that the individuals be closely related, as in inbreeding. Hybridization involves crossing different species or varieties to produce offspring with combined traits, often introducing genetic diversity. Gene therapy focuses on modifying genes to treat or prevent disease and does not relate to breeding practices. Each of these methods has its own applications and implications, but inbreeding distinctly emphasizes continued reproduction among closely related individuals to solidify particular traits within a population.