The following variances were calculated for two traits in a herd of hogs. Trait VP VG VA Back fat 30.6 12.2 8.44 Body length 52.4 26.4 11.70 (a) Calculate broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities for each trait in this herd. (b) Which of the two traits will respond best to selection by a breeder? Why?
Genetic Variation
Genetic variation refers to the variation in the genome sequences between individual organisms of a species. Individual differences or population differences can both be referred to as genetic variations. It is primarily caused by mutation, but other factors such as genetic drift and sexual reproduction also play a major role.
Quantitative Genetics
Quantitative genetics is the part of genetics that deals with the continuous trait, where the expression of various genes influences the phenotypes. Thus genes are expressed together to produce a trait with continuous variability. This is unlike the classical traits or qualitative traits, where each trait is controlled by the expression of a single or very few genes to produce a discontinuous variation.
The following variances were calculated for two traits in a herd of
hogs.
Trait VP VG VA
Back fat 30.6 12.2 8.44
Body length 52.4 26.4 11.70
(a) Calculate broad-sense (H2) and narrow-sense (h2) heritabilities
for each trait in this herd.
(b) Which of the two traits will respond best to selection by a
breeder? Why?
Trending now
This is a popular solution!
Step by step
Solved in 4 steps