Why isn't inbreeding considered an evolutionary mechanism?

Answer 1

Inbreeding is not considered an evolutionary mechanism because it does not lead to adaptive changes in a population over time. Instead, it increases the likelihood of homozygosity for harmful recessive traits, which can lead to a decrease in overall fitness. Evolutionary mechanisms, such as natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow, involve changes in allele frequencies due to environmental pressures or random events, promoting adaptation and diversity within a population. Inbreeding primarily affects genetic diversity negatively rather than facilitating evolutionary processes.