Principles of Genetics and Breeding

11.1.13 Average effect of gene

The parents in the population pass on their genes to the progeny. The genotypes are broken and gametes are formed containing the genes. The union between gametes forms zygotes of the progeny generation and new genotypes are formed.

Therefore transmission of values from parents to offspring cannot be assessed by means of genotypic values alone.

A new measure of values is therefore needed that will refer to genes and not to genotypes.

This enables us to assign a ‘breeding value’ to individuals, a value associated with the genes carried by the individual and transmitted to its offspring.

The new value associated with the genes is known as ‘average effect’.