In a parent-offspring regression experiment, suggest a hypothesis that could explain the solid line in the following graph.
A)The offspring have a "worse" environment than the parents did.
B)The offspring have a "better" environment than the parents did.
C)The trait has a heritability that is less than 0.
D)The trait has a heritability that is greater than 1.
E)None of the answer options is correct.

Question

In a parent-offspring regression experiment, suggest a hypothesis that could explain the solid line in the following graph. 
A)The offspring have a "worse" environment than the parents did. 
B)The offspring have a "better" environment than the parents did. 
C)The trait has a heritability that is less than 0. 
D)The trait has a heritability that is greater than 1. 
E)None of the answer options is correct.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The solid line in the graph indicates a positive correlation between the trait in parents and their offspring. This suggests that the trait is heritable and that offspring tend to have higher values of the trait if their parents also have high values. Therefore, hypothesis B is the best explanation as it suggests that the offspring have a better environment than the parents did, which could result in higher values of the trait.

In a Parent-Offspring Regression Experiment, Suggest a Hypothesis That Could