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Outcrossing facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Outcrossing is a term used in genetics for the mating of unrelated individuals in a population or species. It was originally used for the crossing of an inbred strain with the wild type. Hybrid vigour is the great improvement in fitness which usually occurs as a result of outcrossing a previously inbred line.

Outcrossing leads to random mating, whereas mating of relatives leads to inbreeding.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Cruzamiento para niños

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Outcrossing Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.