Phenotypic variation in tail length of unicorns has the following components: $$\begin{array} { l | l | }
\hline \text { Additive genetic variance } & = 0.2 \
\hline \text { Dominance genetic variance } & = 0.4 \
\hline \text { Genicinteraction variance } & = 0.1 \
\hline \text { Environmental variance } & = 0.2 \
\hline \text { Genetic-environmental interacti on variance } & = 0.5 \
\hline
\end{array}$$ What is the broad-sense heritability for tail length in these unicorns?
A) 0.14
B) 0.3
C) 0.5
D) 0.7
E) 1.4

Question

Phenotypic variation in tail length of unicorns has the following components: $$\begin{array} { l | l | } 
\hline \text { Additive genetic variance } & = 0.2 \
\hline \text { Dominance genetic variance } & = 0.4 \
\hline \text { Genicinteraction variance } & = 0.1 \
\hline \text { Environmental variance } & = 0.2 \
\hline \text { Genetic-environmental interacti on variance } & = 0.5 \
\hline
\end{array}$$ What is the broad-sense heritability for tail length in these unicorns?
A) 0.14
B) 0.3
C) 0.5
D) 0.7
E) 1.4

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Broad-sense heritability is the proportion of phenotypic variance that is due to genetic variance. In this case, the phenotypic variance is 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.1 + 0.2 + 0.5 = 1.4. The genetic variance is 0.2 + 0.4 + 0.1 = 0.7. Therefore, the broad-sense heritability is 0.7 / 1.4 = 0.5.

Phenotypic Variation in Tail Length of Unicorns Has the Following