Inbreeding

Imagine you are trying to solve a jigsaw puzzle, but most of the pieces are from the same corner, making it hard to complete the entire picture. This is similar to inbreeding, where animals or plants that are closely related mate, which limits the genetic diversity needed for a healthy, complete gene pool. Just like using too many pieces from the same corner can lead to gaps and an incomplete puzzle, inbreeding can lead to a lack of genetic variation, resulting in health issues and vulnerabilities within a population, akin to leaving holes in the species' overall genetic puzzle.