Outcrossing

Outcrossing is a term used in genetics for the mating of unrelated individuals in a population or species. It was originally used for the crossing of an inbred strain with the wild type. Hybrid vigour is the great improvement in fitness which usually occurs as a result of outcrossing a previously inbred line.

Outcrossing leads to random mating, whereas mating of relatives leads to inbreeding.

References

  1. ↑ Futuyma D.J. Evolution. Sinauer, Sunderland, Massachusetts. p126