A scientist is researching oil content of seeds from a new plant species named R. artificial. The average oil content from plants in her lab population is 52%, and she has determined the narrow sense heritability (h^2) is 0.60. If she randomly mates individuals with 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, and 74% seed oil content what is the expected response to selection (R)?

The correct answer is - 12%

Explanation:

Given:

Mean of the population - 0.52

Narrow sense heritability or h^2 - 0.6

The expected response of selection or R = ?

Solution:

The average oil content in the selected individuals - 0.7, 0.71, 0.72, 0.73, 0.74

And, the mean of these selected individuals = (0.7 + 0.71 + 0.72 + 0.73 + 0.74) / 5

= 0.72

Formula:

S = Average of selected individuals - Average of population

= 0.72 - 0.52

= 0.20

R = h^2 x S

R = 0.6 x 0.2

= 0.12

= 12%

Thus, the correct answer is - 12%