Given that the mean cuteness of the current herd is 39.7 OMGs, the BAF workers picked the 16 cutest adults and allow them to reproduce with each other. The mean cuteness of these chosen individuals is 41.5 OMGs. What is the predicted mean cuteness of the next generation of alpacas in the BAF environment?

a. 39.9
b. 40.4
c. 41.5
d. 42.5

41.5 OMGs is the predicted mean cuteness in the next generation.

Explanation:

Cuteness is a way to measure relative ability of individuals with a certain genotype to reproduce successfully.

Mean cuteness is given as the summation of individual cuteness. Mean cuteness also changes in the next generation.

The mean cuteness of the current herd was given as 39.7 OMGs and after 16 individuals were chosen, the mean was given as 41.5.

This implies that there was a change already as mean cuteness will either increase or decrease in the next generation after selection. Here, 39.7 increased to 41.5 .

The predicted mean cuteness is therefore 41.5 OMGs.