Natural breed

From Citizendium
Revision as of 21:15, 16 April 2007 by imported>Matt Mahlmann (added wikilinks)
Jump to navigation Jump to search

A natural breed is a variety of a domestic animal that occurred through natural, rather than artificial selection. Domesticated animals, such as the horse, dog, and cat, have all been selected in some way by human beings from their wild forebears. Sometimes a population of such animals becomes separated from others of its kind, on an island, for example, and over the generations a distinctive look and set of abilities becomes common to the isolated population.