envs lecture 6 Flashcards
what can we predict
how much evolution will result from selection acting on a trait / how much evolutionary change is caused by selection acting on a trait
what do evolutionary biologists need to know
how much the mean of a given trait will evolve if there’s directional selection
how can we predict how much evolutionary change given by directional selection
by calculating the difference between the mean of a trait at start of new generation and mean of the trait now
what is Breeders equation used for
to predict the amount of evolutionary change that results from selective breeding
basically what is Breeders equation
evolution by directional selection from one generation to the next
what does rate of evolution depend on
strength of inheritance and strength of directional selection
what is h^2
heritability
what happens if h^2 = 0
no resemblance b/w parents and offspring
what happens if h^2 = 1
parents and offspring identical
what is the slope of the line equal to
heritability
what does Breeders equation show the difference between
difference b/w mean trait in next generation and now
what does each point on the graph represent
mean of all offspring in single family plotted against mean of their parents
what does no slope mean
no relationship b/w mean of parents and mean of offspring in a given trait —> heritability is 0
what does straight/diagonal line slope mean
heritability is 1, parents and offspring are identical
equation relating phenotypic, genetic, and environmental variance
Vp = Vg + Ve
what is Vp
overall phenotypic variance
what is Vg
genetic variance (phenotypic variation caused by genetic variation)
what is Ve
environmental variance components
what does gene expression depend on
age and tissue type, interactions among gene loci, and direct environmental influence
examples of variation in phenotype caused by both genes and environment
human height (heritable but influenced by diet)
what is overall phenotypic variation result of
combo of genetic variance in a trait and environmental components
what does partitioning genetic variance do? why do we do it?
distinguishes role of heredity vs. environment
what is variance of genetic components of Vg
Vg = Va + Vd + Vi
what is Va
additive genetic variance
what is additive genetic variance
the average effect of substituting one allele for another
what is Vd
dominane variance
what is dominance variance
variance due to dominance of alleles at same locus