A study investigated the vitamin A content and cholesterol content of eggs from
ID: 141886 • Letter: A
Question
A study investigated the vitamin A content and cholesterol content of eggs from a large population of chickens. The variances were calculated as shown in the table below.
Trait
Variance
Vitamin A
Cholesterol
VP
123.5
862.0
VE
96.2
484.6
VA
12.0
192.1
VD
15.3
185.3
a)Calculate broad and narrow sense heritability for the two traits.
b)What do you need to assume to complete part (a.)
c)Which trait if either is likely to respond to selection best in the short term and in
the long term.
Trait
Variance
Vitamin A
Cholesterol
VP
123.5
862.0
VE
96.2
484.6
VA
12.0
192.1
VD
15.3
185.3
Explanation / Answer
Ans a)The narrow-sense heritability is defined as the ratio of additive genetic variance to the total phenotypic variance.
h2 = VA/VP
Thus, for vitamin A,
The narrow-sense heritability
h2 = 12/123.5 = 0.0971
Thus, for Cholesterol,
The narrow-sense heritability
h2 = 192.1/862= 0.2228
The broad sense heritability is expressed as the ratio of the total genetic variance to the total phenotypic variance
h2=(VG/VP).
Ans b) The broad sense heritability cannot be calculated the VG value is not given. The VG value is needed
Ans c) Cholesterol
Related Questions
Navigate
Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.