Answer:
The average amount of atropine in the new population will be 32 units of atropine.
Explanation:
To answer this question, we need to remember how can we calculate the selection differential and the heritability in the narrow sense.
• We can get the selection differential, SD, by getting the difference between the mean value of the population´s units of atropine, PoUA, and the mean value of the parents´ units of atropine, PaUA. So, in this example the selection differential is:
SD = PoUA - PaUA
SD = 10 - 50
SD = - 40
• The heritability in the narrow sense, h², for units of atropine in the population is
h² = units of atropine of the offspring average/selection differential
But we already know the value of h² = 55% = 0.55. And we want to know the units of atropine of the offspring. So we just need to clear the following equation.
OUA = PoUA + h² ( PaUA - PoUA)
where,
• offspring average units of atropine = OUA
• population average units of atropine = PoUA = 10 units
• parents average units of atropine = PaUA = 50 units
• Selection diferential = SD = -40 units
• narrow sense heritability = h² = 0.55
OUA = PoUA + h² ( PaUA - PoUA)
OUA = PoUA + h² (SD)
OUA = 10 + 0.55 x ( 50 - 10)
OUA = 10 + 22
OUA = 32 units.
