A Heritability Value of 0

Question

A heritability value of 0.997 indicates which of the following?
A) The majority of the phenotypic variation has a genetic basis
B) The majority of the phenotypic variation has an environmental basis
C) The trait is polygenic
D) There is a significant difference between the two strains

Accepted Answer

A heritability value of 0.997 indicates that the influence of genetics on the phenotype is very strong, and the majority of the phenotypic variation is caused by genetic differences rather than environmental differences. Therefore, choice A is the best answer. Choice B is incorrect because a high heritability value indicates that environmental factors have a relatively small effect on the trait. Choice C may or may not be true, depending on the specific trait being studied, but it is not directly relevant to the heritability value. Choice D is also not directly relevant to the heritability value, and it is unclear what the "two strains" refer to in this context.