Open AccessLinearity Versus nonlinearity of offspring-parent regression: an experimental study of Drosophila melanogaster.
Author(s) -
A. Gimelfarb,
John H. Willis
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.792
H-Index - 246
eISSN - 1943-2631
pISSN - 0016-6731
DOI - 10.1093/genetics/138.2.343
Subject(s) - offspring , biology , heritability , bristle , drosophila melanogaster , selection (genetic algorithm) , character (mathematics) , regression , linear regression , wing , genetics , melanogaster , regression analysis , polynomial regression , evolutionary biology , statistics , mathematics , gene , computer science , artificial intelligence , pregnancy , brush , geometry , aerospace engineering , electrical engineering , engineering
An experiment was conducted to investigate the offspring-parent regression for three quantitative traits (weight, abdominal bristles and wing length) in Drosophila melanogaster. Linear and polynomial models were fitted for the regressions of a character in offspring on both parents. It is demonstrated that responses by the characters to selection predicted by the nonlinear regressions may differ substantially from those predicted by the linear regressions. This is true even, and especially, if selection is weak. The realized heritability for a character under selection is shown to be determined not only by the offspring-parent regression but also by the distribution of the character and by the form and strength of selection.