Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Heritability
Heritability is a measure of how much of the variation in a trait within a population can be attributed to genetic differences among individuals. It is expressed as a value between 0 and 1, where a higher value indicates a greater genetic influence. Importantly, heritability does not indicate the extent to which a trait is determined by genes in an individual, but rather how much genetic factors contribute to differences in the trait across a population.
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Environmental Influence
Environmental influence refers to the impact that external factors, such as nutrition, climate, and social interactions, have on the expression of traits. While heritable traits are influenced by genetics, environmental factors can also play a significant role in shaping phenotypes. Understanding the balance between genetic and environmental contributions is crucial for interpreting heritability estimates.
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Genotype-Phenotype Relationship
The genotype-phenotype relationship describes how the genetic makeup (genotype) of an organism interacts with environmental factors to produce observable traits (phenotype). In cases of high heritability, the variation in phenotypes within a population is largely explained by differences in genotypes, suggesting that genetic factors are the primary drivers of trait expression. This concept is essential for understanding the implications of heritability in evolutionary biology and genetics.
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