Additive Heritability Research Articles

Heritability of Brachydactyly Type A3 in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults from an Endogamous Population in Eastern Nepal

Brachymesophalangia-V (BMP-V), a short and broad middle phalanx of the fifth digit, is the most common of all skeletal anomalies of the hand. When this feature appears alone, it is clinically known as brachydactyly type A3 (BDA3). A high prevalence of BDA3 has been observed among the children of the Jirel ethnic group in eastern Nepal. As part of the Jiri Growth Study, a hand-wrist radiograph is taken annually of each child to assess skeletal development. For this study the most recent radiographs of 1,357 Jirel children, adolescents, and young adults (676 boys, 681 girls), age 3-20 years, were examined for the presence or absence of BDA3, to report the prevalence and estimate the heritability of BDA3 in the Jirel population. The overall prevalence of BDA3 in this sample was 10.5% (12.9% of the males and 8.9% of the females were classified as BDA3 affected). The additive genetic heritability of BDA3 was statistically significant in this sample (h2 +/- SE = 0.87 +/- 0.16, p < 0.0001). This study is the first to estimate the prevalence and heritability of BDA3 in a large South Asian family-based sample.

Genetic variability of body weight in two goose strains under long-term selection

Body weight is one of the most important traits in any genetic improvement program in geese for at least 2 reasons. First, measurements of the trait are very easy. Second, body weight is correlated with a number of other meat performance traits. However, the genetic background of body weight shows considerable complexity. Three genetic models (with direct, maternal genetic and permanent maternal environmental effects) were employed in this study. Records of 3076 individuals of maternal strain W11 and 2656 individuals of paternal strain W33 over 6 consecutive generations, kept in the pedigree farm of Kołuda Wielka, were analysed. Body weight (in kilograms) was measured in weeks 8 (BW8) and 11 (BW11). The inbreeding levels in both populations were relatively low (0.14% and 0.02% for W11 and W33, respectively), therefore these effects were not included in the linear models to estimate genetic parameters. Three fixed effects (hatch period, sex and year) were included in each linear model. Two criteria (AIC, BIC) were used to check the goodness of fit of the models. The computations were performed by WOMBAT software. In general, the genetic parameter estimates varied across the traits, models and strains studied. Direct additive heritability estimates ranged from 0.0001 (for BW11 of W33) to 0.55 (for BW11 of W33). Maternal and total heritabilities were also variable. Estimates of ratios of direct-maternal effect covariance in phenotypic variance were both positive and negative, but they were negligible, whereas ratios of the permanent environmental maternal variance to phenotypic variance were close to zero. Both of the applied criteria of model adequacy indicate that the model with maternal genetic and environmental effects should be considered as optimal. Genetic trends were close to zero. It seems that they were influenced by long-term selection. Similar tendencies have been observed for phenotypic trends, as well.

Heritability of cognitive functions in families with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is highly heritable. Cognitive dysfunctions often observed in bipolar patients and their unaffected relatives implicate that these impairments may be associated with genetic predisposition to bipolar disorder and thus fulfill the criteria of a valid endophenotype for the disorder. However, the most fundamental criterion, their heritability, has not been directly studied in any bipolar population. This population-based study estimated the heritability of cognitive functions in bipolar disorder. A comprehensive neuropsychological test battery and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV were administered to a population-based sample of 110 individuals from 52 families with bipolar disorder. Heritability of cognitive functions as assessed with neuropsychological test scores were estimated using the Solar package. Significant additive heritabilities were found in verbal ability, executive functioning, and psychomotor processing speed. Genetic contribution was low to verbal learning functions. High heritability, in executive functioning and psychomotor processing speed suggest that these may be valid endophenotypic traits for genetic studies of bipolar disorder.

Variance components and genetic parameters for weight and size at birth in the Boer goat

Variance components, heritability (direct additive and maternal) and correlations (additive genetic, phenotypic, maternal genetic and environmental) of body weight (BW) and body size including length (BL), height (BH) and chest girth (BCG) at birth in Boer goats were estimated on the basis of 5096 records obtained from a Boer Goat Breeding Station in Yidu, China, during 2001–2005. The parameters were estimated using a DFREML procedure by excluding or including maternal genetic or permanent maternal environmental effects, four different analysis models were fitted in order to determine the optimum model for each trait. The environmental factors such as year, season, sex and litter size (LS, number of kids) were investigated as the fixed effects. The results showed that the maternal effects were important determinants of estimated the genetic parameters for birth traits. Year and season had significant effect on birth traits. Single births and male kids had the heaviest live weight and the largest body size at birth. The mean values and standard deviation (SD) of BW, BL, BH and BCG were 3.87 ± 0.85 kg, 31.67 ± 2.87 cm, 32.92 ± 2.80 cm, 33.46 ± 3.21 cm. The mean values and standard error (SE) of direct additive heritability estimates for BW, BL, BH and BCG calculated with the optimum model were 0.19 ± 0.08, 0.14 ± 0.07, 0.24 ± 0.09 and 0.25 ± 0.10, respectively. For all the birth traits, estimates of the correlations between direct additive and maternal genetic ( r a –m ) were negative. The estimates of additive genetic and phenotypic correlations among the birth traits were high and positive, and implied no genetic antagonisms among these traits analyzed. The estimates of maternal genetic correlations also were high and positive. Medium and positive environmental correlations indicated the important effects of environmental factors on early growth traits.

Quantitative Genetics of Adult Behavioral Response and Larval Physiological Tolerance to Permethrin in Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

We investigated the genetic basis of adult behavioral response and larval physiological tolerance to permethrin within two diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), populations from Wooster and Celeryville, OH, with different average levels of larval tolerance. The adult behavioral response was measured as oviposition site preference and was investigated using full-sib design and parent-offspring regression. Additive genetic variance (0.134 +/- 0.02) and the heritability (h2 = 0.31 +/- 0.08) for the behavioral response was significant for the Celeryville population, suggesting that in this population, a high proportion of phenotypic variation for adult behavioral response to permethrin was heritable genetic variation. The larval physiological response was measured with a topical application bioassay and was investigated using a half-sib design. Significant additive genetic variances and heritabilities for physiological tolerance to permethrin were detected in both populations. The genetic correlation between adult behavioral response and larval physiological tolerance to permethrin were negative, but significant only in the Celeryville population; indicating that adults from this population that are more behaviorally responsive produced offspring that are more susceptible to permethrin. Our findings have implications for the evolution and management of insecticide resistance in the diamondback moth. The adult behavioral response can lower the exposure of larvae to the insecticide, lowering selection pressure for physiological resistance in larvae. Furthermore, to the extent that the adult behavioral response increases fitness, it can indirectly select for larval susceptibility because of the negative correlation between the two traits.

Genetic Parameter Estimates of Body Weights of Naked Neck Broiler Chickens

The chicks used in this experiment were obtained from a population of naked neck broiler chickens that has been kept in NAPRI since 1998. Six Hundred chicks were obtained from four hatches, one week apart. At hatch, pedigreed chicks were wing-banded and housed on deep litter in an open house. Body weights were measured biweekly up to 8 weeks of age. Other measurements taken include Neck length, Back length, keel length and breast angle. The general least square means were 37.22 ± 0.32, 210.46 ± 1.97, 744.33 ± 4.31, 1351.3 ± 7.91 and 2428.1 ± 14.61g for wt at day old (WT0D), weight at 2 weeks (WT14D), weight at 4 weeks (WT28D), weight at 6 weeks (WT42D) and weight at 8 weeks (WT56D), respectively. While measurements taken included Neck length, Back length, keel length and breast which were 7.31±0.06, 15.99±0.05, 5.63±0.04, 10.44±0.04cm respectively. The heritability estimates ranged from low value of 3.013±0.08 for keel length to 0.315±0.22 for WT0D. There were negative genetic correlations between WT0D and other traits. This study showed that additive heritabilities are low for linear body measurement and moderate for body weight for naked neck chickens during rearing.

QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF PLASTRON SHAPE IN SLIDER TURTLES ( TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA )

Shape variation is widespread in nature and embodies both a response to and a source for evolution and natural selection. To detect patterns of shape evolution, one must assess the quantitative genetic underpinnings of shape variation as well as the selective environment that the organisms have experienced. Here we used geometric morphometrics to assess variation in plastron shell shape in 1314 neonatal slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) from 162 clutches of laboratory-incubated eggs from two nesting areas. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that nesting area has a limited role in describing plastron shape variation among clutches, whereas differences between individual clutches were highly significant, suggesting a prominent clutch effect. The covariation between plastron shape and several possible maternal effect variables (yolk hormone levels and egg dimensions) was assessed for a subset of clutches and found to be negligible. We subsequently employed several recently proposed methods for estimating heritability from shape variables, and generalized a univariate approach to accommodate unequal sample sizes. Univariate estimates of shape heritability based on Procrustes distances yielded large values for both nesting populations (h2 approximately 0.86), and multivariate estimates of maximal additive heritability were also large for both nesting populations (h2max approximately 0.57). We also estimated the dominant trend in heritable shape change for each nesting population and found that the direction of shape evolution was not the same for the two sites. Therefore, although the magnitude of shape evolution was similar between nesting populations, the manner in which plastron shape is evolving is not. We conclude that the univariate approach for assessing quantitative genetic parameters from geometric morphometric data has limited utility, because it is unable to accurately describe how shape is evolving.

QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF PLASTRON SHAPE IN SLIDER TURTLES (TRACHEMYS SCRIPTA)

Shape variation is widespread in nature and embodies both a response to and a source for evolution and natural selection. To detect patterns of shape evolution, one must assess the quantitative genetic underpinnings of shape variation as well as the selective environment that the organisms have experienced. Here we used geometric morphometrics to assess variation in plastron shell shape in 1314 neonatal slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) from 162 clutches of laboratory-incubated eggs from two nesting areas. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated that nesting area has a limited role in describing plastron shape variation among clutches, whereas differences between individual clutches were highly significant, suggesting a prominent clutch effect. The covariation between plastron shape and several possible maternal effect variables (yolk hormone levels and egg dimensions) was assessed for a subset of clutches and found to be negligible. We subsequently employed several recently proposed methods for estimating heritability from shape variables, and generalized a univariate approach to accommodate unequal sample sizes. Univariate estimates of shape heritability based on Procrustes distances yielded large values for both nesting populations (h2 ≈ 0.86), and multivariate estimates of maximal additive heritability were also large for both nesting populations (hmax2 ≈ 0.57). We also estimated the dominant trend in heritable shape change for each nesting population and found that the direction of shape evolution was not the same for the two sites. Therefore, although the magnitude of shape evolution was similar between nesting populations, the manner in which plastron shape is evolving is not. We conclude that the univariate approach for assessing quantitative genetic parameters from geometric morphometric data has limited utility, because it is unable to accurately describe how shape is evolving.

New genetic parameters to exploit genetic variability in low input production systems

Under low input production systems, low heritabilities for growth traits have been a major limiting factor for recommending selection to improve animal productivity. Heritabilities low values were usually due to a large error variance leading to a dilution of the genetic variability. A total of 11,802 Barbarine lambs, from 606 breeding rams and 2428 breeding ewes, born during the period 1972–2002 and raised in a low production system were used in this study. The objective was to derive new genetic parameters that reflect in a proper way the available genetic variabilities for growth traits even under a low production system. Three classical heritability estimators and two new proposed genetic parameters (ratios) were computed and compared: the additive ( h 2 a), the maternal ( h 2 m), the total ( h 2 t) heritabilities, the additive genetic ratio ( a 2) and the genetic maternal ratio ( m 2). Main results of this study showed that the direct animal model has led to higher heritability estimates than the animal maternal model. Estimates were 0.30, 0.30 and 0.31 for weights at 10 days, 30 days and 90 days, respectively. For average daily gains, estimates were 0.22 and 0.26 between 10–30 days and 30–90 days, respectively. Under maternal model, h 2 a varied from 0.05 to 0.08, h 2 m varied from 0.08 to 0.12 and h 2 t varied from 0.11 to 0.17. Maternal heritabilities were higher than additive heritabilities, but both remained relatively small. Values of additive genetic ratios were 0.20, 0.19, 0.20, 0.32 and 0.39 for W10, W30, W90 ADG13 and ADG39, respectively. The maternal genetic ratios were 0.41, 0.45, 0.37, 0.41 and 0.40 for W10, W30, W90, ADG13 and ADG39, respectively. These results showed that a 2 and m 2 describe better the contribution of the additive and maternal effects to the available genetic variability compared to classical heritability estimates because they remain unaffected by the residual error variance even under low-input production systems. These new parameters (ratios) represent, consequently, appropriate indicators for the contribution of the additive and maternal genetic effects to the total genetic variability and encourage breeders to find ways to exploit them.

Estimates of genetic parameters for ultrasound-measured carcass traits in sheep

Data on ultrasound traits (loin depth, average backfat thickness, and loin width) were collected from lambs (n = 3483) across Ontario, born between 1997 and 1999. The data were analysed with a REML procedure in a multiple-trait mixed-animal model to obtain (co)variance component estimates. Analyses of all traits included the additive genetic effect of the lamb, sex of the lamb, contemporary group, and breed group effects. Weight or age was included as a covariate in two separate analyses. Estimates of direct additive heritabilities for loin depth, average backfat thickness, and loin width were 0.29, 0.29 and 0.26 respectively, with genetic correlations of -0.17 between loin depth and average backfat thickness, 0.43 between loin depth and loin width, and 0.23 between loin width and average backfat thickness for the weight constant analysis. When the data were analysed using age in the regression analysis, corresponding estimates of direct additive heritabilities were 0.38, 0.35 and 0.30, and genetic correlations between traits were all positive, 0.29 between loin depth and average backfat thickness, 0.61 between loin depth and loin width, and 0.44 between loin width and average backfat thickness. Results indicate that it is possible to make genetic improvement if selection is based on ultrasound information. Key words: Sheep, genetic parameters, heritability, ultrasound

Hierarchical Bayes multiple-breed inference with an application to genetic evaluation of a Nelore-Hereford population.

The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate the utility of a hierarchical Bayes implementation of a multiple-breed animal model (MBAM) to estimate breed composition means and additive genetic variances as well as on variances due to the segregation between breeds. The MBAM and a conventional animal model (AM) were both applied to five simulated data sets derived from each of two different populations. Population I consisted of crosses between two breeds having a twofold difference in genetic variance and a nonzero segregation variance. Population II had the same population structure as Population I, except that the two breeds had the same genetic variance with no segregation variance; that is, Population II was essentially single breed in its genetic architecture. For Population I, posterior means of all variance components obtained by MBAM were unbiased, with 95% posterior probability intervals (PPI) having the expected coverage based on five replicates. The MBAM showed a slightly superior performance over the AM for genetic predictions in Population I, although there was no evidence that the use of the MBAM translated into greater genetic gains relative to the use of the AM. Nevertheless, the MBAM was clearly demonstrated to have superior fit to the data using pseudo-Bayes factors (PBF) as the basis for model choice. As expected, the MBAM and AM performed equally well in Population II. A data set consisting of 22,717 postweaning gain (PWG) records of a Nelore-Hereford population (40,082 animals in the pedigree) also was analyzed. The MBAM inference on Nelore and Hereford additive heritabilities (h2A) substantially differed. Herefords had a posterior mean h2A of 0.20 with a 95% PPI of 0.15 to 0.25, whereas the corresponding values for the Nelores were 0.07 and 0.04 to 0.11, respectively. The posterior mean genetic variance due to the segregation between these breeds was 8.4 kg2, with a 95% PPI of 2.3 to 24.8 kg2, and represented 35.4% of the Nelore but only 9.9% of the Hereford posterior mean genetic variance. The posterior mean h2A using the AM was 0.15, presumed common across the two breeds, with a 95% PPI of 0.11 to 0.19. The PBF heavily favored the MBAM over the AM for the PWG data. Accordingly, the MBAM represents a viable alternative to AM for multiple-breed genetic evaluations, providing the necessary flexibility in modeling heteroskedastic genetic variances of breed composition groups.

Threshold-linear analysis of measures of fertility in artificial insemination data and days to calving in beef cattle.

Mating and calving records for 47,533 first-calf heifers in Australian Angus herds were used to examine the relationship between days to calving (DC) and two measures of fertility in AI data: 1) calving to first insemination (CFI) and 2) calving success (CS). Calving to first insemination and calving success were defined as binary traits. A threshold-linear Bayesian model was employed for both analyses: 1) DC and CFI and 2) DC and CS. Posterior means (SD) of additive covariance and corresponding genetic correlation between the DC and CFI were -0.62 d (0.19 d) and -0.66 (0.12), respectively. The corresponding point estimates between the DC and CS were -0.70 d (0.14 d) and -0.73 (0.06), respectively. These genetic correlations indicate a strong, negative relationship between DC and both measures of fertility in AI data. Selecting for animals with shorter DC intervals genetically will lead to correlated increases in both CS and CFI. Posterior means (SD) for additive and residual variance and heritability for DC for the DC-CFI analysis were 23.5 d2 (4.1 d2), 363.2 d2 (4.8 d2), and 0.06 (0.01), respectively. The corresponding parameter estimates for the DC-CS analysis were very similar. Posterior means (SD) for additive, herd-year and service sire variance and heritability for CFI were 0.04 (0.01), 0.06 (0.06), 0.14 (0.16), and 0.03 (0.01), respectively. Posterior means (SD) for additive, herd-year, and service sire variance and heritability for CS were 0.04 (0.01), 0.07 (0.07), 0.14 (0.16), and 0.03 (0.01), respectively. The similarity of the parameter estimates for CFI and CS suggest that either trait could be used as a measure of fertility in AI data. However, the definition of CFI allows the identification of animals that not only record a calving event, but calve to their first insemination, and the value of this trait would be even greater in a more complete dataset than that used in this study. The magnitude of the correlations between DC and CS-CFI suggest that it may be possible to use a multitrait approach in the evaluation of AI and natural service data, and to report one genetic value that could be used for selection purposes.

Discrete time survival analysis of lamb mortality in a terminal sire composite population.

Mortality records of 8,642 lambs from a composite population at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center during the first year of life were studied using discrete survival analyses. Lamb mortality was studied across periods from birth to weaning, birth to 365 d of age, and weaning to 365 d of age. Animal-time data sets were created for each period using different time intervals: daily, weekly, fortnightly, and monthly. Each data set was analyzed using logistic and complementary log-log sire, animal, and maternal effects models. Explanatory variables included in the models were duration of time interval, sex, type of birth, contemporary group, age of dam, and type of upbringing (nursery or not). Similar estimates of explanatory variables were obtained within the same period across models and different time intervals. Heritability estimates from the complementary log-log models were greater than those from the comparable logistic models because of the difference in variance of the respective link functions. Heritability estimates from the complementary log-log sire model ranged from 0.13 to 0.21 for all periods. These estimates were greater than the complementary log-log animal model estimates that ranged from 0.04 to 0.12. Maternal effects were important early in life, with the maternal heritability slightly greater than the direct additive heritability. Negative correlations (-0.72 to -0.65) between direct additive and maternal effects was estimated. The similarity of results among survival analysis methods demonstrates that the discrete methodology is a viable alternative to estimate variance components in livestock survival data.

Evaluation genetic parameters for weight at different ages in Baluchi breed of sheep

Improving breeding values and breeding programs should be done based on genetic potential. The range of additive direct heritability and maternal environment heritability for birth weight is about 0.07 to 0.22 and 0.1 to 0.33 respectively the range of these values for the following weights are 0.09- 0.58 and 0.01- 0.17. the objective of this study was to predict the direct additive genetic effect, maternal genetic effect and heritabilities of lamb weight traits in baluchi breed of sheep.

Genetic and environmental relationship among udder conformation traits and mastitis incidence in Holstein Friesian into two different environments

Abstract. Type-performance of udder of Holstein-Friesian was analyzed using multi-trait animal model in two different environments (Hungary and Egypt). Udder traits were: udder height and depth. Teat traits were teat length, attachment and placement. Multi-trait animal model was used to compute estimates of additive variance and covariance components. 2507 records of 549 cows and 6011 records of 2018 cows were collected from Egypt and Hungary respectively. Heritability estimates of udder and teat characteristics ranged from 0.35 to 0.45 and from 0.32 to 0.59 in Hungarian and Egyptian cows, respectively. Heritability estimates of udder traits in both environments were higher than the corresponding estimates for teat traits. Udder characteristics of Egyptian Holstein-Friesian (EHF) had inheritance power higher than for Hungarian Holstein-Friesian (HHF). Mastitis was moderately correlated with udder height and teat traits in each environment. Additive genetic variance and heritability of the most studied traits increased with the advancing order of lactation in each environment. Heritabilities of mastitis were low. Sire and dam variance components of all studied traits were higher in EHF than HHF herds. Mastitis was strongly correlated negatively with udder depth of EHF than HHF. The genetic analysis results of the present study, indicate that udder characteristics should be taken into consideration during planning of selection strategies for improving dairy cattle performance. Enhancing management levels of Egyptian environmental conditions is very essential for improving general performance of the most exotic dairy cattle breeds. EHF has great chances for genetic improvement to mastitis resistance through selection, based on udder descriptive performance.

Variances and covariances between productive and adaptive traits and temperament in a composite breed of tropical beef cattle

Variances and covariances for productive and adaptive traits and temperament were estimated in a tropically adapted composite breed of cattle grazed at pasture in the tropics. Measurements included weights and period weight gains between birth and 18 months, mature cow weights, repeated tick, worm egg and buffalo fly counts, rectal temperatures (measures of heat resistance), flight speed scores (measures of temperament), scrotal circumference at weaning, 12 and 18 months and repeated measures of pregnancy rate and days to calving. Additive heritabilities ( h 2 a) of all weights except weaning weight were moderate to high ( h 2 a=0.31–0.84), but low to moderate for weaning weight and period weight gains ( h 2 a=0.14–0.21). Maternal heritabilities ( h 2 m) for weights to 18 months and preweaning gain were significant, particularly for weaning weight (0.34) and preweaning gain (0.30). Genetic and phenotypic correlations between weights at all ages were positive, but ranged from low ( r g=0.07 between yearling weight and mature cow weight; r p=0.08 between birth weight and mature cow weight) to high ( r g=0.95; r p=0.87 between weights at 12 and 18 months), with genetic correlations generally being higher than phenotypic correlations. Heritability of tick and worm counts were moderate to high (0.35–0.44). Heritability (0.18) and repeatability (0.27) of rectal temperature was low. Flight speed scores were moderately to highly heritable (0.40–0.44). Heritability of scrotal size at all ages was moderate to high (0.35–0.46) and maternal genetic effects were also important. Pregnancy rate and days to calving were lowly heritable (0.04 and 0.07, respectively). Genetic correlations between tick and worm counts ( r g=0.30) and tick count and rectal temperature ( r g=0.22) were both favourable, though the genetic relationship between worm count and rectal temperature was close to zero. Relationships between tick and worm counts and growth, male and female fertility and flight speed scores were all close to zero, indicating that tick and worm resistance were largely independent traits, except for relationships amongst other resistance traits. Genetic relationships between rectal temperatures and most weights and period weight gains were favourable ( r g=−0.20 to −0.49) though genetic relationships between rectal temperatures and birth weight, mature cow weight and dry season gain were lower (−0.08 to −0.12). Low to moderate, favourable genetic relationships existed between rectal temperature and pregnancy rate (−0.16) and days to calving (0.16), although phenotypic relationships were close to zero. To maximise genetic progress, it is concluded that homogeneous rather than heterogeneous variance should be assumed for males and females to estimate breeding values in zebu derived cattle grazed at pasture in the tropics. For beef breeding programs based in the tropics, where there are more sources of variation for economically important traits, careful consideration needs to be given to use of appropriate analytical models, to ensure that effects such as sire×year or contemporary group interactions are correctly accounted for when population genetic statistics are estimated.

When Does Human Longevity Start?: Demarcation of the Boundaries for Human Longevity

The scientific debates on the future of human life span and its possible biological limits revealed a great need for direct identification of longevity boundaries, if they really exist. The key question posed in this study is as follows: how can we possibly determine the age when human longevity starts? To address this problem, we studied the familial transmission of human life span from parents to daughters, since daughters did not have a high incidence of violent causes of death due to military service and are particularly responsive to parental life span. We found that the familial transmission of human life span from mother to daughter is essentially nonlinear with virtually no daughter-mother life span resemblance for shorter-lived mothers (died before age 85) and very high familial resemblance (additive heritability) for longer-lived mothers. This indicates that maternal age of 85 years could be considered as a demarcation point (lower boundary) for female longevity. Women who live above this age are fundamentally (presumably genetically) different from other women in the sense that their daughters live significantly longer. Thus, the age of 85 years could be considered as a threshold age when women mortality becomes much more selective. A similar study of familial transmission of human life span from father to daughter revealed a demarcation point at 75 years, suggesting that this age might represent a lower boundary for male longevity. These results are also consistent with predictions of the evolutionary theory of aging and mutation accumulation theory in particular, namely that the additive genetic variance for human life span should increase with parental longevity. In other words, human mortality should become more selective at advanced ages, and this prediction is confirmed in the present study.

Estimates of genetic parameters for direct and maternal effects on birth weight of local sheep in United Arab Emirates

Genetic parameters for birth weight were estimated for two sets of purebred and crossbred lambs in United Arab Emirates, using animal model methods. Data were analyzed by restricted maximum likelihood (REML). Five different animal models were fitted. Model 1 considered the animal as the only random effect. Models 2 and 3 included in addition to the additive direct effect of the animal, the additive maternal and the permanent maternal environmental effects, respectively. Model 4 fitted both the additive maternal and permanent environmental effects. Model 5 was the same as model 4, except that a covariance between the direct and the maternal additive effects was included. Estimates of direct heritability were substantially higher when maternal effects were ignored. Introducing the additive maternal effect to model 2 reduced the estimate of additive heritability by 28 and 14% of σ ̂ p 2 for the purebred and crossbred lambs, respectively. Estimates of additive direct and additive maternal heritabilities with model 4 were 0.10 and 0.33, and 0.45 and 0.10 for purebred and crossbred lambs, respectively. The correlation between direct and maternal genetic effects for the combined (purebred+crossbred lambs) data set was large and negative. These results indicate that in addition to additive direct effect, additive maternal effect for birth weight was important.

Componentes de (co)variância e parâmetros genéticos para caracteres produtivos à desmama de bezerros Angus criados no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul

Foram estimados componentes de (co)variância e parâmetros genéticos para peso ao nascer (PN), ganho do nascimento à desmama (G205) e escores de conformação (CD), precocidade de terminação (GD), musculatura (MD) e tamanho (TD) à desmama, utilizando-se registros de desmama de 40.915 bezerros Angus, criados no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil. Desses, 12.706 tinham pesagem ao nascer e 11.863, avaliação completa para escores visuais (EV). Os dados foram analisados por meio de um modelo animal, em análises uni e multivariadas, e os componentes de variância estimados pela máxima verossimilhança restrita. As herdabilidades aditivas diretas estimadas foram 0,29; 0,25; 0,18; 0,19; 0,19; e 0,21, respectivamente, para PN, G205, CD, GD, MD e TD. A herdabilidade materna para G205 foi 0,16 e a correlação entre efeito genético direto e materno, -0,51. Essa correlação negativa indica antagonismo entre esses efeitos e provocou decréscimo na herdabilidade total para G205, que foi 0,18. A contribuição do ambiente permanente da vaca para a variância fenotípica esteve entre um mínimo de 0,05 para PN e máximo de 0,12 para G205. A correlação genética entre PN e G205 foi --0,06, mostrando que estes caracteres são independentes geneticamente. As correlações genéticas encontradas entre G205 e EV foram entre 0,71 e 0,86 e de EV entre si, 0,58 a 0,91. Essas associações positivas entre os escores visuais e destes com o crescimento na fase pré-desmama favorecem a seleção conjunta destes caracteres, por meio de índices de seleção.

Pre-weaning growth traits of the Hereford breed in a multibreed composite beef cattle population

Data from a multibreed composite beef cattle population, managed under intensive irrigated grazing conditions,were used to estimate direct additive heritabilities (h2a), maternal heritabilities (h2m) and maternal permanent environmental effects (c2) for birth weight (BW) and weaning weight (WW) of the calf and cow efficiency of the dam (CE: WW/dam weight0.75 x 100). Calves born between 1968 and 1993 (n = 52628) had varying levels of Hereford genes, ranging from 0% to 100%, with an average of 19.3%. Direct heritabilities, fitting unitrait models, were 0.72, 0.54 and 0.19 for BW, WW and CE, respectively, with corresponding estimates of maternal heritabilities being 0.14, 0.21 and 0.42. Genetic correlations between direct and maternal effects (ram) were negative for all three traits, varying from -0.40 to -0.65. Maternal permanent environmental effects were 0.06, 0.12 and 0.11 for BW, WW and CE, respectively. Direct breeding values and maternal breeding values for BW and WW decreased with increasing proportion of Hereford. Direct breeding value for CE increased, while maternal breeding value for CE reached a minimum value at 0.62 proportion of Hereford. (South African Journal of Animal Science, 2000, 30(3): 220-229)