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Calculation of heritability

1. Calculation of heritability

What is causing the beaks of Geospiza scandens to get bigger over time? I mentioned the selective pressure brought on by the drought. But why do some birds have such large beaks to begin with? A prevailing explanation is that scandens birds are mating the other major finch species on Daphne Major, Geopsiza fortis.

2. The finches of Daphne Major

These hybrid birds then mate with pure scandens, in a process called introgressive hybridization, which can bring fortis characteristics into the scandens species. This is similar to what likely happened to humans when they encountered neanderthals. In order assess the viability of this explanation,

3. Heredity

we need to know how strongly parental traits are passed on to offspring. In this last set of exercises, we will investigate the extent to which parental beak depth is inherited by offspring in both scandens and fortis. You are applying your new statistical skills to a real, fundamental scientific problem.

4. Let's practice!

I find this exhilarating, and I hope you do, too!