The Inbreeding Coefficient Can Be Defined as The

Question

The inbreeding coefficient can be defined as the:
A) Probability that two gene copies in an individual are identical by descent from a common ancestor
B) Probability that two gene copies in an individual are different by descent from a common ancestor
C) Probability that two gene copies in an individual are identical by descent from two different ancestors
D) All of these
E) None of these

Accepted Answer

The inbreeding coefficient measures the probability that two gene copies in an individual are identical by descent from a common ancestor. This probability is based on the amount of inbreeding, or mating between relatives, that has occurred in the individual's ancestry. Option B is incorrect because it refers to the probability that two gene copies are different, which is not related to inbreeding. Option C is incorrect because it refers to gene copies from two different ancestors, which is also not related to inbreeding. Option D is incorrect because it includes all options, but only option A is correct in relation to the inbreeding coefficient.