Which statement describes that genetic value includes components that the breeding value does not?

Which statement describes that genetic value includes components that the breeding value does not?

• A. Genetic value includes dominance and epistasis, which are not transmitted to offspring
• B. Breeding value includes dominance and epistasis
• C. Genetic value excludes additive effects
• D. Breeding value and genetic value are identical

Answer: (A)

In quantitative genetics, total genetic merit (genetic value) includes all genetic effects: additive effects, dominance, and epistasis. The breeding value, on the other hand, is the additive portion that is transmitted from parents to offspring and contributes to resemblance between relatives. Dominance arises from interactions between alleles at the same locus, and epistasis from interactions across loci; both are non-additive and do not pass to offspring as a fixed, predictable unit. Therefore, genetic value includes components that breeding value does not, which is why the correct statement is that genetic value includes dominance and epistasis, not transmitted as such to offspring. The other ideas don’t fit because breeding value is not defined by dominance and epistasis, genetic value does include additive effects, and the two values are not identical.

In quantitative genetics, total genetic merit (genetic value) includes all genetic effects: additive effects, dominance, and epistasis. The breeding value, on the other hand, is the additive portion that is transmitted from parents to offspring and contributes to resemblance between relatives. Dominance arises from interactions between alleles at the same locus, and epistasis from interactions across loci; both are non-additive and do not pass to offspring as a fixed, predictable unit. Therefore, genetic value includes components that breeding value does not, which is why the correct statement is that genetic value includes dominance and epistasis, not transmitted as such to offspring. The other ideas don’t fit because breeding value is not defined by dominance and epistasis, genetic value does include additive effects, and the two values are not identical.