What is a breed?

• A. Two-part naming system
• B. Group of animals with similar traits
• C. Physical structure
• D. Passing traits to offspring

Answer: (B)

A breed is a defined group within a species that shares a common gene pool and inherited characteristics that breeders maintain through selective mating. This means members of a breed tend to look and perform similarly, and these traits are passed on reliably because the population is kept as a distinct, managed group over generations. For example, Holstein cattle are a dairy breed selected for high milk production, while Angus cattle are a beef breed chosen for certain carcass traits. The other ideas point to different concepts: a two-part naming system refers to scientific naming of species, physical structure describes anatomy, and passing traits to offspring describes heredity. A breed specifically denotes that stable, recognizable population within the species.