Relationship Between Narrow and Broad Sense Heritability
Heritability in the narrow sense (h²ₙ) compared to broad sense heritability (H²ᴮ) is always:
- Always greater than broad sense heritability
- Always less than broad sense heritability (strictly)
- Always less than or equal to broad sense heritability — Correct Answer
- Equal to broad sense heritability
Explanation:
Correct Answer: Always less than or equal to broad sense heritability
h²ɴ ≤ H²ᴮ always, because:
- H²ᴮ = VG / VP = (VA + VD + VI) / VP
- h²ɴ = VA / VP
Since VG ≥ VA (VG includes VD and VI in addition to VA), h²ɴ can never exceed H²ᴮ. They are equal only when there is no dominance (VD = 0) and no epistasis (VI = 0) — i.e., when all genetic variance is additive.
Components of Variance
- VP = VG + VE
- VG = VA + VD + VI
- VP = VA + VD + VI + VE
📚 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.
