Question

A breeder wishes to estimate narrow sense heritability for adult weight in a population of Turkeys. The mean weight of the parental population was 18 pounds. Turkeys with a mean weight of 26 pounds were used to produce the next generation, which had a mean weight of 20 pounds. What is the narrow-sense heritability for these Turkeys. Would this estimate be accurate if offspring and parents received a different diet? Explain.

Answer 1

Narrow sense heritability is calculated by using formula h² = R/S where h² = narrow sense heritability, R = selsection response and S = selection differential.

S = Mean of selected parents - mean of base population = 26 - 18 = 8 pounds

R = Mean of offsprings of selected parents - mean of base population = 20 - 18 = 2

Therefore h² = 2/8 = 0.25

This estimation would not be accurate if offspring and parents received a different diet because environmental factors affect the genotype grown.