EFFECT OF SELECTION ON HERITABILITY AND GENETIC CORRELATION OF TWO QUANTITATIVE TRAITS IN MICE

The effects of different intensities of single trait directional selection on the heritability and genetic correlation of two quantitative traits in random mating populations of mice were observed during 14 generations. The initial population was divided at random into five groups (A, B, C, D and E). Group A and Group B were under 30% and 60% mass selection for large 6-week body weight, respectively. Group C and Group D were under 30% and 60% mass selection for long 6-week tail length, respectively. Group E acted as control group with no selection applied. In all groups, the parent population consisted of 15 males and 30 females each generation, mated at random.Direct selection had no apparent effect on the heritability of either the trait under selection or the correlated trait over the 14 generations. Heritability of 6-wk tail length was higher than the heritability of 6-wk body weight. Estimates of heritability of 6-wk tail length ranged from 0.15 ± 0.22 to 0.68 ± 0.24, while estimates of heritability of 6-wk body weight ranged from 0.05 ± 0.17 to 0.33 ± 0.09. There was no significant difference among the estimates of genetic correlation between the two traits in the five selection groups. Estimates of realized genetic correlation between 6-wk body weight and 6-wk tail length seemed to indicate that more intense selection led to some decrease in genetic correlation between the two traits.