Texas longhorn cattle have been bred to increase the tip to tip width of their horns,and the heritability of this trait has been well studied by Professor David Hillis at the University of Texas,Austin.In the current generation,the mean horn length is 52 inches.If only a subset of this population,with a mean horn length of 61 inches,are allowed to reproduce,and the narrow-sense heritability of this trait = 0.2,what is the expected horn length in the offspring generation?
A)~1.8 inches
B)~9 inches
C)~54 inches
D)~61 inches
E)Cannot be determined based on the information provided

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The expected horn length in the offspring generation can be calculated using the breeder's equation: R = h^2 * S, where R is the response to selection, h^2 is the heritability, and S is the selection differential. Here, S = 61 - 52 = 9 inches, and h^2 = 0.2. Thus, R = 0.2 * 9 = 1.8 inches. The expected mean horn length in the offspring generation is the original mean plus the response: 52 + 1.8 = 53.8 inches, which rounds to ~54 inches.

Texas Longhorn Cattle Have Been Bred to Increase the Tip