What is the term for the intentional breeding of organisms for specific traits?

The term for the intentional breeding of organisms for specific traits is artificial selection. This process involves humans choosing which organisms to breed based on desirable characteristics, such as size, color, or yield. Over time, this selective breeding can lead to significant changes in a population, enhancing certain traits while possibly reducing the presence of others.

Natural selection, in contrast, is a natural process where the organisms best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, without human intervention. Genetic mutation refers to changes in the DNA sequence, which can introduce new traits but is not an intentional process. Evolutionary adaptation involves the gradual change in populations to better fit their environment through natural selection over many generations, again not involving human choices or interventions. Thus, artificial selection specifically denotes human-driven processes of breeding for desired traits.