Which statement correctly describes EBV in comparison to BV?

Which statement correctly describes EBV in comparison to BV?

• A. EBV involves many loci; BV at a single locus
• B. BV involves many loci
• C. EBV is environmental
• D. BV is unrelated to genetics

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how genetic merit is built from many genes and how we estimate it. For most traits, additive effects come from many loci across the genome, not just one. EBV, or estimated breeding value, is the predicted additive genetic merit derived from data and markers spread across the genome, so it reflects contributions from many loci. The true BV is the sum of those additive effects across all loci that influence the trait, not confined to a single locus. So describing EBV as involving many loci makes sense, while saying BV is at a single locus isn’t accurate. The other statements are incorrect because EBV is not environmental and BV is inherently related to genetics.

The main idea here is how genetic merit is built from many genes and how we estimate it. For most traits, additive effects come from many loci across the genome, not just one. EBV, or estimated breeding value, is the predicted additive genetic merit derived from data and markers spread across the genome, so it reflects contributions from many loci. The true BV is the sum of those additive effects across all loci that influence the trait, not confined to a single locus. So describing EBV as involving many loci makes sense, while saying BV is at a single locus isn’t accurate. The other statements are incorrect because EBV is not environmental and BV is inherently related to genetics.