Question

The University of Illinois has been conducting one of the longest selection experiments, begun in 1896 by C.G. Hopkins. Researchers have been selecting for high corn oil content (as measured in % dry mass). Researchers select those plants with the highest corn oil content, and use only those individuals to seed the next generation. Here is a portion of actual data from their experiment:

1899 mean oil content in entire population: 5.65% dry mass
mean oil content of selected plants: 6.30% dry mass
1900 mean of oil content in entire population: 6.10% dry mass
Calculate the heritability of corn oil content (% dry mass). For full credit, show your work, including any equations used.

Answer 1

0.725

Step-by-step explanation:

This type of question is a concept of Narrow-sense Heritability and Artificial selection used by plant breeds.

So, heritability = R/S

where;

R = response to selection

S = selection differential

S further implies the difference in mean oil content between base population & selected population.

S = 5.65 - 6.30 = 0.65% ( where the negative sign are not regarded)

R implies the difference in mean oil content between the offspring or population after implementation of selection and the base population.

R = 6.10 - 5.65 = 0.45%

∴

Heritability = R/S = 0.45% / 0.6%

= 0.725

Thus; the heritability in the oil content of corn in the given set of population = 0.725.