Heritability Level for Effective Individual and Pedigree Selection
Individual selection and pedigree selection are more effective when heritability of the trait is:
- High — Correct Answer
- Low
- Medium
- Zero
Explanation:
Correct Answer: High
Individual selection and pedigree selection are more effective when the heritability (h²) of the trait is high, because phenotype is a good indicator of genotype only when h² is high.
Effectiveness of Selection Methods by Heritability
| Heritability | More Effective Methods |
|---|---|
| High h² | Individual selection, Pedigree selection |
| Low h² | Progeny testing, Family selection |
When h² is high: phenotype ≈ genotype, so selecting on individual phenotype works well. When h² is low: environmental effects are large, so family or progeny performance averages (which cancel environmental noise) are more reliable.
📚 About this Topic — Animal Genetics & Breeding
This multiple choice question is from Animal Genetics & Breeding, Animal Refresher. It has 4 options with a detailed explanation of the correct answer. Practice more MCQs from Animal Genetics & Breeding to strengthen your preparation.
