# Explain how selective breeding could be used to produce a breed of dog with a gentle temperament.

> Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) — 4.3 Selective breeding and genetic engineering · Explain · 4 marks

> Dogs have been bred by humans for thousands of years to produce animals suited to different purposes. Breeders today are interested in developing dogs with reliably calm and gentle temperaments for use as assistance animals.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Select/identify dogs that show the most gentle temperament from the existing population
2. Breed the selected dogs together (with each other)
3. Select the offspring that show the most gentle temperament and breed them again / repeat the process over many generations
4. Over time / many generations, the frequency of the gentle temperament trait increases in the population / offspring reliably show a gentle temperament

## Key terms

- [selective breeding](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/selective-breeding)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/explain-how-selective-breeding-could-be-266adfc1) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.