Question

an experimental population of flour beetles, the body length shows a continuous distribution with a mean of 6.8 mm. A group of males and females with body length of 9 mm are removed and interbred. The body lengths of their offspring average 7.6 mm. Based on these data what is the heritability in the narrow sense for body length in this population? Group of answer choices 0.38 0.66 0.36 0.64

Answer 1

0.3636

Explanation:

Data provided in the question:

Mean of the body length = 6.8 mm

Body length of the males and females = 9 mm

Average Body length of offspring = 7.6 mm

Now,

heritability in the narrow sense for body length, h²

=
`\frac{\textup{Selection response}}{\textup{Selection differential}}`

also,

Selection response = 7.6 - 6.8 = 0.8 mm

Selection differential = 9 - 6.8 = 2.2 mm

thus,

heritability in the narrow sense for body length, h² =
`\frac{\textup{0.8}}{\textup{2.2}}`

or

heritability in the narrow sense for body length, h² = 0.3636