An animal breeder asks your advice about which of a number of traits could most effectively be selected for in his herd. Which would you most correctly suggest? A)a trait with high V_E B)a high V_A relative to V_P C)a high V_P relative to V_G D)a low h² value E)a low selection coefficient

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The trait with a high V_A relative to V_P would be the most effectively selected for as it indicates a high heritability of the trait. This means that there is a strong genetic basis for the expression of this trait and it can be reliably passed on to future generations through selective breeding. V_E (error variance) and V_G (genetic variance) are not as important as the heritability of the trait, and a low h² value and low selection coefficient do not necessarily indicate a desirable trait that can be effectively selected for.

An Animal Breeder Asks Your Advice About Which of a Number