Introduction to Quantitative Genetics

Example of Predicting the Response to Selection

A sunflower population has a mean of 100 days to flower (T). Parents with a mean of 90 days to flowering were selected (T_s). The heritablity for the trait is h² = 0.2 days to flowering. What will be the mean of the population if these parents are crossed?

R = h²S

R = 0.2(90 -100)

R = -2 days

New population = T' = (100 - 2) = 98 days to flowering