BREEDING is the natural process of
sexual reproduction within the same species. The genetic information of both
parents is combined and passed on to the offspring. In this process the same
sections of DNA can be exchanged between the same chromosomes, but genes will
always remain at their precise position and in the same order on the chromosomes.Therefore
a gene will always be surrounded by the same DNA unless mutations occur.
In the 19th century, Gregor
Mendel discovered that different characteristic of plants could be inherited.
He did his research on pea plants and established the first genetic theories
.
Since then, scientists have tried to improve the plants by changing their genetic
information. This was usually done by hybridisation:
two related plants were cross-fertilised and their offspring had characteristics
of both parent plants. Sometimes this process resulted in the discovery of superior
plants, which were then used in the future.