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Estimation of heritability and genetic trend in populations at a physiological limit

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Summary

Limits on physiological processes, though perhaps unknown, must exist. The reported simulations evaluate the effect of a physiological limit on the estimation of genetic parameters and genetic progress. Simulation experiments reveal no change in the estimate of heritability, even for limits as restrictive as 1.5 phenotypic standard deviations above the population mean. However, estimates of additive genetic and environmental variance shrink as limits on performance increase in severity. Simulated physiological limits do not affect the rate of genetic progress. However, absolute measures of estimated genetic change are less than those predicted by response equations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Science, University of California, 95616, Davis, CA, USA

    T. R. Famula

  2. Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska Meat Animal Research Center, A218 Animal Sciences, University of Nebraska, 68583-0908, Lincoln, NE, USA

    L. D. Van Vleck

Authors
  1. T. R. Famula
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  2. L. D. Van Vleck
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Communicated by E. J. Eisen

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Famula, T.R., Van Vleck, L.D. Estimation of heritability and genetic trend in populations at a physiological limit. Theoret. Appl. Genetics 79, 699–704 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226886

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226886

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