The breeding of closely related animals or people together, which can strengthen certain traits but often increases genetic problems.
From 'in-' (within) and 'breeding' (reproduction). Modern term from 19th-century biological science, though the practice is ancient.
Royal families famously practiced inbreeding for centuries to 'keep the bloodline pure,' but genetic studies show it catastrophically backfired—hemophilia, madness, and weakness plagued the European nobility as a direct result.
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