Question

Suppose that the narrow‑sense heritability of ear length in Reno rabbits is 0.4. The phenotypic variance (VP) is 0.5, and the environmental variance (VE) is 0.1. Calculate the additive genetic variance (VA) for ear length in these rabbits.

Answer 1

0.20

Step-by-step explanation:

The narrow-sense heritability, denoted by h², refers to the ratio of additive genetic variance (Va) to the total phenotypic variance (Vp).

Mathematically, it can be written as:

h² = V(A)/V(P)

Where;

V(A) = additive genetic variance

V(P) = total phenotypic variance

V(A) = V(P) × h²

Based on the information provided in the question, V(P) = 0.5, h² = 0.4

V(A) = 0.5 × 0.4

V(A) = 0.20

The additive genetic variance (VA) for ear length in these rabbits is 0.2.