A survey of Genetics students examined the heritability of human height. It can
ID: 42063 • Letter: A
Question
A survey of Genetics students examined the heritability of human height. It can be shown that, under certain conditions, the slope (b) of the regression of a person's height on the height of their same-sex parent can be used as an estimate of half of the narrow-sense heritability (i.e. h2 = 2b).
The data are plotted above. Results of the analysis were as follows:
Combined male and female data, with adjustment for sex (number of samples = 94): b = 0.38 (p-value < 0.0001).
PART A
Using the combined data from males and females, the estimate of narrow-sense heritability would be:
A) h2 = 0.19
B) h2 = 0.38
C) h2 = 0.76
D) h2 < 0.0002
E) h2 < 0.0001
PART B
The statistical test of the regression slope evaluates how likely it is that we would have obtained a slope this large if the true heritability were zero. The usual p-value threshold for a statistical test is 0.05. Thus, what is the correct interpretation of the p-value of less than 0.0001 in the combined analysis?
A) The p-value is less than 0.05, so there is insufficient evidence that human height variation has a genetic component.
B) The p-value is less than 0.05, rejecting the hypothesis that height variation has a genetic component.
C) The p-value is less than 0.05, supporting the hypothesis that height variation lacks a genetic component.
D) The p-value is less than 0.05, supporting the hypothesis that height variation has a genetic component.
Explanation / Answer
The estimate of narrow-sense heritability would be: h2 < 0.0002. Thus, the correct option is (d).
Thus, what is the correct interpretation of the p-value of less than 0.0001 in the combined analysis is: The p-value is less than 0.05, rejecting the hypothesis that height variation has a genetic component. So, the correct option is (b).
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