Abstract

Quantitative genetic theory, based on the concept of heritability (Lush 1940), provides a statistical description of population variability, and thus allows prediction of the expected response of the population to selection. This prediction is strictly valid only for a single generation, because the components of the phenotypic variance will themselves be expected to change with selection. These changes are not drastic, so that the theory does give a reasonable description of the short-term effects of selection, although just how long this "shortterm" is will depend on the particular character under selection and the particular population (Barker 1967).

D. R Gifford, J. SF Barker

Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, Volume 7. Symposia (1), , 24–28, 1982