The correct option is a.
The heritability for traits in a cloned population is 0% because all individuals have identical genetics, and there is no genetic variation to explain the variation in the trait.
The heritability of a trait in a population refers to the proportion of the variation in that trait that can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals. It is typically expressed as a value between 0% and 100%. In the context of a cloned population, where all individuals have identical genetics, the heritability of traits is essentially 0%. Here's a step-by-step explanation:
1. Definition of Heritability:
- Heritability (h^2) is a measure of the extent to which genetic factors contribute to the variation in a particular trait within a population.
- It is expressed as a proportion, ranging from 0 (no genetic contribution) to 1 (all variation is due to genetics).
2. Cloned Population:
- In a cloned population, all individuals are genetically identical because they are derived from the same source, typically a single parent or donor.
- Since all individuals have the exact same genes, there is no genetic variation within the population for the trait in question.
3. Calculation of Heritability:
- Heritability is calculated as the ratio of the genetic variance (Vg) to the total phenotypic variance (Vp):
4. In the case of a cloned population:
- Genetic variance (Vg) is essentially zero because there is no genetic variation among individuals.
- Total phenotypic variance (Vp) is the measure of the overall variation in the trait within the population.
5. Given that Vg is nearly zero and Vp represents the total variation, the heritability (h^2) is effectively zero:
So, the answer is 0%.