Question

In mice, fur colour shows continuous variation. What is the broad sense and narrow sense heritability? VE = 335, VA = 50, VD = 45, VI = 30

Answer 1

Broad sense heritability measures the proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to genetic factors, including both additive and non-additive effects, as well as environmental effects. Narrow sense heritability measures the proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to additive genetic effects only.

Step-by-step explanation:

In mice, fur color shows continuous variation. Broad sense heritability (HB) measures the proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to genetic factors, including both additive genetic effects (VA) and non-additive genetic effects (VD and VI), as well as environmental effects (VE). Narrow sense heritability (HN) measures the proportion of phenotypic variation that is due to additive genetic effects only.

Using the given information, we can calculate the broad and narrow sense heritability as follows:

1. Broad sense heritability (HB) = (VA + VD + VI) / (VA + VD + VI + VE) = (50 + 45 + 30) / (50 + 45 + 30 + 335) = 125 / 460 = 0.272
2. Narrow sense heritability (HN) = VA / (VA + VE) = 50 / (50 + 335) = 50 / 385 = 0.130

Therefore, the broad sense heritability is 0.272 and the narrow sense heritability is 0.130.