Question

Consider a population of rock pigeons. The mean spot size on the tail of these pigeons is 0.55. You select the top 5% of pigeons based on spot size to breed. The mean spot size in these pigeons that you are breeding is 0.75. The heritability of spot size is rock pigeons is known to be 0.25. What is the response to selection (please give your answer to two decimal places)

Answer 1

The response to selection is 0.05

Step-by-step explanation:

We are provided with the data on a population of rock pigeons below;

The Mean of selected parents = 0.75

The Mean of offspring = 0.55

Selection differential (S),

= Mean of selected parents - Mean of offspring

= 0.75 - 0.55

S = 0.2

The heritability, h = 0.25

The Response to selection,

R = h2S

R = heritability × Selection differential

R = 0.25 * 0.2 = 0.05

The Response to selection = 0.05

Answer 2

0.05

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that:

The total population mean of the rock pigeons = 0.55

After selection of top 5%, the mean spot size(selected population mean size) = 0.75

Then; true selection = 0.75 - 0.55

true selection (S) = 0.20

The heritability of spot size is rock pigeons is known to be 0.25.

The response to the selection can be calculated as follows:

R =

Response to selection R = heritability spot size × true selection

= 0.25 × 0.20

= 0.05

Hence, the response to selection is 0.05 to two decimal places