Which term best describes the process through which humans breed plants and animals for specific traits?

The term that best describes the process through which humans breed plants and animals for specific traits is artificial selection. This process involves intentionally selecting individuals with desired traits to reproduce, thereby passing those traits on to the next generation. Over time, this selective breeding can lead to significant changes in the traits of domesticated species, enhancing features that are beneficial or desirable for human use, such as size, color, yield, or temperament.

In contrast, natural selection refers to the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more successfully without human intervention. Genetic engineering involves directly modifying an organism's DNA to achieve specific traits, rather than relying on traditional breeding methods. Hybridization is the process of crossing different species or varieties to produce hybrids, which can involve traits from both parents but is not specifically about human-directed selection for traits over generations. Therefore, while all these terms are related to genetics and breeding, artificial selection is the most accurate term for the human-led process of selecting traits in plants and animals.