Outreach in Biotechnology

breeding of related individuals to produce new crop varieties with useful properties. Plants are crossed to move desired traits from one variety into another. During crossing, thousands of genes are transferred concomitantly. Progeny are tested for the desired trait, then backcrossed and further developed. Classical breeding relies largely on inbred lines and takes advantage of the genetic diversity generated by homologous recombination. The classical plant breeder may also use techniques such as protoplast fusion, embryo rescue, or mutagenesis to generate diversity and produce plants that would not exist in nature. See also intraspecific diversity, cultigen, landrace.