What is a key difference between selective breeding and genetic modification?

Selective breeding focuses on naturally selecting traits in offspring by choosing parent organisms with specific desired characteristics for reproduction. This process involves breeding individuals that have beneficial traits, allowing these traits to become more common in the following generations. It relies on the natural genetic variation that exists within a species and does not involve altering the genetic material at the molecular level.

In contrast, the other options present methods or attributes that do not accurately reflect the nature of selective breeding or genetic modification. For instance, selective breeding does not involve random mating, as the choice of parents is intentional. Genetic modification, on the other hand, can involve manipulating natural genes or inserting genes from different organisms, providing a clearer distinction from selective breeding, which does not alter the genetic composition itself at a molecular level. Thus, option C correctly captures the essence of selective breeding.