Asked by paisley

The cattle breeding program notices that heterozygous animals (Bb) for certain traits often have advantages over homozygous animals. This relates to Mendel's observations about hybrid vigor. What does this suggest about genetic diversity in breeding programs?
Question 1 options:

Homozygous animals are always superior because they show consistent traits

Only purebred animals should be used in breeding programs

Heterozygous animals often combine advantages from both alleles they carry

Genetic diversity has no impact on animal health or breeding success

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Correct answer: Heterozygous animals often combine advantages from both alleles they carry.

Explanation: This is an example of heterosis (hybrid vigor) — maintaining genetic diversity (heterozygosity) can improve fitness, health, and performance compared with homozygous individuals. It implies breeding programs should preserve or introduce genetic variation rather than rely solely on purebred, highly homozygous lines.