Breed vs. Strain — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 30, 2024
A breed is a group of domestic animals with distinctive characteristics, while a strain refers to a genetic variant within a species.
Difference Between Breed and Strain
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Breeds are specific groups of domestic animals, such as dogs, cats, or livestock, that have been selectively bred over generations to emphasize certain desirable traits, such as size, temperament, or productivity. These characteristics are relatively stable and recognized across generations, allowing breeds to be officially recognized and classified by various organizations. On the other hand, strains refer to variations within a species, particularly in the context of plants, bacteria, and sometimes inbred animals, which result from a specific genetic makeup. Strains are often identified by their distinct genetic or phenotypic characteristics, which can include resistance to diseases, yield, or specific physical traits.
While breeds are a concept primarily associated with domesticated animals and are a result of selective breeding practices aimed at enhancing certain traits, strains are used more broadly in biology to describe genetic variations within any species, including microorganisms, plants, and animals. Strains are especially important in scientific research and agriculture, where specific genetic variations can lead to significant differences in behavior, disease resistance, or productivity.
The identification and classification of breeds are often governed by breed registries and organizations that set standards for what defines a specific breed. These standards include physical appearance, behavior, and sometimes genetic markers. Conversely, strains do not have formal registries; their identification often depends on the context of use, such as laboratory research, agriculture, or horticulture, where the focus is on the genetic attributes and performance of the strain rather than on meeting a specific breed standard.
Breeds are more about maintaining and refining established traits over generations through controlled breeding practices. This is common in pets and livestock where specific breeds are known for their distinct appearances and behaviors. Strains, however, often arise from both natural genetic variations and targeted breeding or genetic modification to achieve specific outcomes, such as increased resistance to pests or diseases in crops, or specific colors or effects in cannabis plants.
Finally, while the concept of a breed is rooted in tradition and often associated with heritage and culture, strains are a more fluid concept, reflecting ongoing changes and discoveries in genetics and biology. Breeds tell a story of human-animal relationships, selective breeding, and cultural preferences, while strains highlight the dynamic nature of genetics and the potential for adaptation and improvement within all species.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A group of domestic animals with specific traits.
A genetic variant within a species.
Associated With
Domestic animals (dogs, cats, livestock).
Plants, bacteria, animals, especially in scientific contexts.
Focus
Emphasizing desirable traits through selective breeding.
Genetic variations leading to specific characteristics.
Classification
Governed by official registries and standards.
Identified by genetic or phenotypic characteristics.
Importance
Cultural heritage, predictability of traits.
Scientific research, agriculture, disease resistance.
Compare with Definitions
Breed
Recognized and classified by official organizations.
The American Kennel Club recognizes over 190 dog breeds.
Strain
A genetic variant within a species, often in plants and microorganisms.
Different strains of wheat are bred for disease resistance.
Breed
Aimed at maintaining and enhancing specific traits.
Horse breeds like the Arabian are prized for endurance.
Strain
Important in agriculture for traits like yield and disease resistance.
The Heirloom tomato strains are popular for their flavors.
Breed
A categorization of domestic animals by specific traits.
The Labrador Retriever breed is known for its friendly nature.
Strain
Used in scientific research to study genetic effects.
E. coli strains are used to understand bacterial genetics.
Breed
Developed through selective breeding for desired characteristics.
The Persian breed of cats is bred for its long fur and flat face.
Strain
Arises from natural variations or targeted genetic modification.
Laboratory mice strains are developed for research purposes.
Breed
Often associated with cultural heritage and preferences.
The Belgian Malinois breed is favored for its working ability.
Strain
Reflects the potential for genetic diversity and adaptation.
Cannabis strains are selected for specific therapeutic effects.
Breed
A breed is a specific group of domestic animals having homogeneous appearance (phenotype), homogeneous behavior, and/or other characteristics that distinguish it from other organisms of the same species. In literature, there exist several slightly deviating definitions.
Strain
To pull, draw, or stretch tight
The heavy load strained the rope.
Breed
To produce (offspring); give birth to or hatch.
Strain
(Physics) To cause distortion of (a body's parts or shape) by applying an external force; deform.
Breed
To bring about; engender
"Admission of guilt tends to breed public sympathy" (Jonathan Alter).
Strain
To exert, use, or tax to the utmost
Straining our ears to hear.
Breed
To cause to reproduce, especially by controlled mating and selection
Breed cattle.
Strain
To injure or impair by overuse or overexertion; wrench
Strain a muscle.
Breed
To develop new or improved strains in (organisms), chiefly through controlled mating and selection of offspring for desirable traits.
Strain
To damage or weaken by pressure or tension
Winds that strained the mast.
Breed
To inseminate or impregnate; mate with.
Strain
To force beyond the proper or reasonable limit
An excuse that strains credulity.
Breed
To rear or train; bring up
A writer who was bred in a seafaring culture.
Strain
To pass (a liquid) through a filtering agent such as a strainer.
Breed
To be the place of origin of
Austria breeds great skiers.
Strain
To draw off or remove by filtration
Strained the pulp from the juice.
Breed
To produce (fissionable material) in a breeder reactor.
Strain
(Archaic) To embrace or clasp tightly; hug.
Breed
To produce offspring.
Strain
To make strong or steady efforts; strive hard
Straining to complete the coursework.
Breed
To copulate; mate.
Strain
To contract or exert one's muscles to the utmost.
Breed
To originate and develop
Mischief breeds in bored minds.
Strain
To pull or push forcibly or violently
The dog strained at its leash.
Breed
A group of organisms having common ancestors and certain distinguishable characteristics, especially a group within a species developed by artificial selection and maintained by controlled propagation.
Strain
To be or become wrenched or twisted
The flagpole straining in the wind.
Breed
A kind; a sort
A new breed of politician.
A new breed of computer.
Strain
To be subjected to great stress
With such busy lives, the marriage can strain.
Breed
(Offensive) A person of mixed racial descent; a half-breed.
Strain
To pass through a filtering agent
The muddy water strains slowly.
Breed
(transitive) To give birth to; to be the native place of.
A pond breeds fish; a northern country breeds stout men
Strain
The act of straining.
Breed
Of animals, to mate.
Strain
The state of being strained
The strain on the cable.
Breed
To keep animals and have them reproduce in a way that improves the next generation’s qualities.
Strain
Extreme or laborious effort, exertion, or work
Moved the sofa with little strain.
Breed
To arrange the mating of specific animals.
She wanted to breed her cow to the neighbor's registered bull.
Strain
A great or excessive demand or stress on one's body, mind, or resources
The strain of managing both a family and a career.
Breed
To propagate or grow plants trying to give them certain qualities.
He tries to breed blue roses.
Strain
The state of being subjected to such demands or stresses
Trying to work under great strain.
Breed
To take care of in infancy and through childhood; to bring up.
Strain
A wrench, twist, or other physical injury resulting from excessive tension, effort, or use.
Breed
To yield or result in.
Disaster breeds famine;
Familiarity breeds contempt
Strain
(Physics) Any of several kinds of deformation of the dimensions of a body when subjected to stress, as axial strain or elastic strain.
Breed
To be formed in the parent or dam; to be generated, or to grow, like young before birth.
Strain
An exceptional degree or pitch
A strain of zealous idealism.
Breed
(sometimes as breed up) To educate; to instruct; to bring up
Strain
A group of bacteria or viruses that are genetically distinct from other groups of the same species.
Breed
To produce or obtain by any natural process.
Strain
A group of cultivated plants or domestic animals of the same species that have distinctive characteristics but are not considered a separate breed or variety.
Breed
(intransitive) To have birth; to be produced, developed or multiplied.
Strain
The collective descendants of a common ancestor; a race, stock, line, or breed.
Breed
(transitive) to ejaculate inside someone's anus
Strain
Any of the various lines of ancestry united in an individual or a family; ancestry or lineage.
Breed
All animals or plants of the same species or subspecies.
A breed of tulip
A breed of animal
Strain
A kind or sort
Imaginings of a morbid strain.
Breed
A race or lineage; offspring or issue.
Strain
An inborn or inherited tendency or character
A strain of eccentricity in the family.
Breed
(informal) A group of people with shared characteristics.
People who were taught classical Greek and Latin at school are a dying breed.
Strain
An inherent quality; a streak
"his upper-caste father, placid, inactive, with a strain of asceticism" (V.S. Naipaul).
Breed
To produce as offspring; to bring forth; to bear; to procreate; to generate; to beget; to hatch.
Yet every mother breeds not sons alike.
If the sun breed maggots in a dead dog.
Strain
The tone, tenor, or substance of a verbal utterance or of a particular action or behavior
Spoke in a passionate strain.
Breed
To take care of in infancy, and through the age of youth; to bring up; to nurse and foster.
To bring thee forth with pain, with care to breed.
Born and bred on the verge of the wilderness.
Strain
Often strains(Music) A passage of expression; a tune or an air
Melodic strains of the violin.
Breed
To educate; to instruct; to form by education; to train; - sometimes followed by up.
But no care was taken to breed him a Protestant.
His farm may not remove his children too far from him, or the trade he breeds them up in.
Strain
A passage of poetic and especially lyrical expression.
Breed
To engender; to cause; to occasion; to originate; to produce; as, to breed a storm; to breed disease.
Lest the placeAnd my quaint habits breed astonishment.
Strain
An outburst or a flow of eloquent or impassioned language.
Breed
To give birth to; to be the native place of; as, a pond breeds fish; a northern country breeds stout men.
Strain
(archaic) Race; lineage, pedigree.
Breed
To raise, as any kind of stock.
Strain
(biology) A particular variety of a microbe, virus, or other organism, usually a taxonomically infraspecific one.
They say this year's flu virus is a particularly virulent strain.
Breed
To produce or obtain by any natural process.
Children would breed their teeth with less danger.
Strain
(figurative) Hereditary character, quality, tendency, or disposition.
There is a strain of madness in her family.
Breed
To bear and nourish young; to reproduce or multiply itself; to be pregnant.
That they breed abundantly in the earth.
The mother had never bred before.
Ant. Is your gold and silver ewes and rams?Shy. I can not tell. I make it breed as fast.
Strain
Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, etc.
Breed
To be formed in the parent or dam; to be generated, or to grow, as young before birth.
Strain
Language that is eloquent, poetic, or otherwise heightened.
Breed
To have birth; to be produced or multiplied.
Heavens rain graceOn that which breeds between them.
Strain
(rare) A kind or sort (of person etc.).
Breed
To raise a breed; to get progeny.
The kind of animal which you wish to breed from.
Strain
(obsolete) Treasure.
Breed
A race or variety of men or other animals (or of plants), perpetuating its special or distinctive characteristics by inheritance.
Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed.
Greyhounds of the best breed.
Strain
The act of straining, or the state of being strained.
Breed
Class; sort; kind; - of men, things, or qualities.
Are these the breed of wits so wondered at?
This courtesy is not of the right breed.
Strain
A violent effort; an excessive and hurtful exertion or tension, as of the muscles.
He jumped up with a strain
The strain upon the sailboat's rigging
Breed
A number produced at once; a brood.
Strain
An injury resulting from violent effort; a sprain.
Breed
A special lineage;
A breed of Americans
Strain
A dimensionless measure of object deformation either referring to engineering strain or true strain.
Breed
A special variety of domesticated animals within a species;
He experimented on a particular breed of white rats
He created a new strain of sheep
Strain
(obsolete) The track of a deer.
Breed
Half-caste offspring of parents of different races (especially of white and Indian parents)
Strain
(obsolete) To hold tightly, to clasp.
Breed
A lineage or race of people
Strain
To apply a force or forces to by stretching out.
To strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship
Relations between the United States and Guatemala traditionally have been close, although at times strained by human rights and civil/military issues.
Breed
Call forth
Strain
To damage by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force.
The gale strained the timbers of the ship.
Breed
Copulate with a female, used especially of horses;
The horse covers the mare
Strain
To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as when bending a beam.
Breed
Of plants or animals;
She breeds dogs
Strain
To exert or struggle (to do something), especially to stretch (one's senses, faculties etc.) beyond what is normal or comfortable.
Sitting in back, I strained to hear the speaker.
Breed
Have young (animals);
Pandas rarely breed in captivity
Strain
To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in terms of intent or meaning.
To strain the law in order to convict an accused person
Strain
(transitive) To separate solid from liquid by passing through a strainer or colander
Strain
(intransitive) To percolate; to be filtered.
Water straining through a sandy soil
Strain
To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain.
Strain
To urge with importunity; to press.
To strain a petition or invitation
Strain
(transitive) hug somebody; to hold somebody tightly.
Strain
(obsolete) To beget, generate (of light), engender, copulate (both of animals and humans), lie with, be born, come into the world.
A man straineth, liveth, then dieth.
Man, look at that cat straining that kitty.
Strain
Race; stock; generation; descent; family.
He is of a noble strain.
With animals and plants a cross between different varieties, or between individuals of the same variety but of another strain, gives vigor and fertility to the offspring.
Strain
Hereditary character, quality, or disposition.
Intemperance and lust breed diseases, which, propogated, spoil the strain of nation.
Strain
Rank; a sort.
Strain
A cultural subvariety that is only slightly differentiated.
Strain
The act of straining, or the state of being strained.
Strain
A violent effort; an excessive and hurtful exertion or tension, as of the muscles; as, he lifted the weight with a strain; the strain upon a ship's rigging in a gale; also, the hurt or injury resulting; a sprain.
Whether any poet of our country since Shakespeare has exerted a greater variety of powers with less strain and less ostentation.
Credit is gained by custom, and seldom recovers a strain.
Strain
A portion of music divided off by a double bar; a complete musical period or sentence; a movement, or any rounded subdivision of a movement.
Their heavenly harps a lower strain began.
Strain
A change of form or dimensions of a solid or liquid mass, produced by a stress.
Strain
Any sustained note or movement; a song; a distinct portion of an ode or other poem; also, the pervading note, or burden, of a song, poem, oration, book, etc.; theme; motive; manner; style; also, a course of action or conduct; as, he spoke in a noble strain; there was a strain of woe in his story; a strain of trickery appears in his career.
Such take too high a strain at first.
The genius and strain of the book of Proverbs.
It [Pilgrim's Progress] seems a novelty, and yet containsNothing but sound and honest gospel strains.
Strain
Turn; tendency; inborn disposition. Cf. 1st Strain.
Because heretics have a strain of madness, he applied her with some corporal chastisements.
Strain
To draw with force; to extend with great effort; to stretch; as, to strain a rope; to strain the shrouds of a ship; to strain the cords of a musical instrument.
Strain
To act upon, in any way, so as to cause change of form or volume, as forces on a beam to bend it.
Strain
To exert to the utmost; to ply vigorously.
He sweats,Strains his young nerves.
They strain their warbling throatsTo welcome in the spring.
Strain
To stretch beyond its proper limit; to do violence to, in the matter of intent or meaning; as, to strain the law in order to convict an accused person.
There can be no other meaning in this expression, however some may pretend to strain it.
Strain
To injure by drawing, stretching, or the exertion of force; as, the gale strained the timbers of the ship.
Strain
To injure in the muscles or joints by causing to make too strong an effort; to harm by overexertion; to sprain; as, to strain a horse by overloading; to strain the wrist; to strain a muscle.
Prudes decayed about may track,Strain their necks with looking back.
Strain
To squeeze; to press closely.
Evander with a close embraceStrained his departing friend.
Strain
To make uneasy or unnatural; to produce with apparent effort; to force; to constrain.
He talks and plays with Fatima, but his mirthIs forced and strained.
The quality of mercy is not strained.
Strain
To urge with importunity; to press; as, to strain a petition or invitation.
Note, if your lady strain his entertainment.
Strain
To press, or cause to pass, through a strainer, as through a screen, a cloth, or some porous substance; to purify, or separate from extraneous or solid matter, by filtration; to filter; as, to strain milk through cloth.
Strain
To make violent efforts.
To build his fortune I will strain a little.
Strain
To percolate; to be filtered; as, water straining through a sandy soil.
Strain
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
Strain
Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension;
She endured the stresses and strains of life
He presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger
Strain
A succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence;
She was humming an air from Beethoven
Strain
(psychology) nervousness resulting from mental stress;
His responsibilities were a constant strain
The mental strain of staying alert hour after hour was too much for him
Strain
A special variety of domesticated animals within a species;
He experimented on a particular breed of white rats
He created a new strain of sheep
Strain
(biology) a group of organisms within a species that differ in trivial ways from similar groups;
A new strain of microorganisms
Strain
A lineage or race of people
Strain
Injury to a muscle (often caused by overuse); results in swelling and pain
Strain
Pervading note of an utterance;
I could follow the general tenor of his argument
Strain
An effortful attempt to attain a goal
Strain
An intense or violent exertion
Strain
The act of singing;
With a shout and a song they marched up to the gates
Strain
To exert much effort or energy;
Straining our ears to hear
Strain
Test the limits of;
You are trying my patience!
Strain
Use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity;
He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro
Don't strain your mind too much
Strain
Separate by passing through a sieve or other straining device to separate out coarser elements;
Sift the flour
Strain
Make tense and uneasy or nervous or anxious;
Strain
Stretch or force to the limit;
Strain the rope
Strain
Remove by passing through a filter;
Filter out the impurities
Strain
Rub through a strainer or process in an electric blender;
Puree the vegetables for the baby
Strain
Alter the shape of (something) by stress;
His body was deformed by leprosy
Common Curiosities
What defines a strain?
A strain refers to a genetic variant or subgroup within a species, distinguished by specific genetic or phenotypic characteristics.
How are breeds and strains different?
Breeds are specific to domestic animals and emphasize physical and behavioral traits, while strains refer to genetic variations within any species, often related to specific characteristics or adaptations.
Can plants have breeds?
Typically, plants are categorized into varieties or cultivars rather than breeds, with the term "strain" used to describe genetic variations.
Who determines the standards for animal breeds?
Breed standards are determined by official registries and organizations dedicated to specific types of animals.
Why are strains important in agriculture?
Strains are crucial for developing crops with desired traits such as increased yield, disease resistance, and specific qualities.
Do strains apply to animals?
Yes, the term can apply to animals, especially in the context of genetically uniform or inbred lines used in research.
Are all domestic animals classified into breeds?
Not all domestic animals are classified into specific breeds; some are categorized more broadly based on function or type without strict breed standards.
What is a breed?
A breed is a group of domestic animals with distinctive, stable traits developed through selective breeding.
How does genetic modification relate to strains?
Genetic modification can be used to create or enhance specific strains by directly altering genetic material to achieve desired traits.
What role does selective breeding play in creating breeds?
Selective breeding is fundamental in developing and maintaining breeds, focusing on enhancing specific desirable traits.
How does one identify different strains?
Different strains are identified by their genetic makeup, physical characteristics, or performance traits, depending on the species and context.
Can the term strain refer to disease variations?
Yes, in microbiology, strains can refer to variations of bacteria or viruses, often with implications for disease characteristics and treatment.
What's the significance of strain in medical research?
In medical research, strains can be critical for studying disease processes, developing treatments, and understanding genetic influences on health.
Is the concept of breed applicable to wildlife?
No, the concept of breed generally applies to domesticated species, not wild populations.
How are dog breeds categorized?
Dog breeds are categorized by their physical traits, behaviors, and pedigree, with standards set by kennel clubs and breed organizations.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
