# Selective breeding is used to improve characteristics in dogs. A breeder wants to produce a breed of dog that consistently retrieves objects from water, selecting for webbed feet and a water-resistant coat. Explain how the breeder would use selective breeding to produce a breed of dog with both of these desirable characteristics.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1) — 5.2 Selective breeding · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Identify and select parent dogs that show the desirable characteristics (webbed feet and/or water-resistant coat)
2. Breed the selected parents together to produce offspring
3. Select offspring that show the desirable characteristics and breed from these
4. Repeat the process over many generations until the desirable characteristics are consistently present in the breed

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)](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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