Plant and animal breeders have developed techniques for producing hybrids, offspring with the desirable properties of each parent. For example, hybrids can be made to grow faster with less food or be more disease-resistant. They lose the hybrid vigor of the original hybrids through the process of genetic recombination in the following generations. He, too, had to consider hybrid vigor as he worked to produce stronger and higher-yielding rice plants. This activity is a simplified version of an attempt to produce a hybrid plant.
Geneticists use selective breeding in an attempt to capitalize on hybrid vigor.
But often, as this activity shows, future generations lose the advantage bestowed on the original generation of hybrid plants. This simulation shows the effect of the loss of hybrid vigor in succeeding generations. It also gives you a chance to practice data collection and analysis skills. It is hypothesized that a hybrid of these two plants should be able to combine the favorable characteristics of each, thus giving the hybrid a better chance of surviving drought conditions. Assume that this plant does a poor job of water utilization.