Population A consists of 100 hens that are fully isogenic and that are reared in a uniform environment. The average weight of the eggs the lay is 52 g and the variance is 3.5 g2. Population B consists of 100 genetically variable hens that produce eggs with a mean weight of 52 g and a variance of 21.0 g2. Population B is raised in an environment that is equivalent to that of Population A.

a. What is the environmental variance (VE) for egg weight?

b. What is the genetic variance in Population B?

c. What is the broad-sense heritability in Population B?

a. the environmental variance (VE) = 3.5 g ²

b. 17.5 g ² for population

c. the heritability of broad sense (H2) = 0.83

Explanation:

a. With the information we have we can infer that environmental factors influence A, which is considered isogenic, thus, the environmental variance (VE) = 3.5 g ²

b. When studying population B, comparing it without environmental changes with respect to population A, we found that its total variance (VT) = 21.0g ²

We generate the following formula with the data obtained previously to find the genetic variation

VT = VE + VG

then VG = VT-VE

replacing dа ta:

VG = 21.0 - 3.5 = 17.5 g ² for population

c. Regarding the heritability of broad sense (H2) in population B, we can reach the result with the data previously obtained like this:

H2 = VG / VT = 17.5 / 21.0 = 0.83