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Defining fitness in natural and domesticated populations

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterResearch

    Abstract

    The term 'fitness' has been applied differently and with different definitions throughout the history of population genetics. Five concepts and definitions are presented - distinguishing (phenotypic) fitness, (genotypic) fitness, adaptedness, adaptability and durability. While the heritabilities of fitness components are low, substantial genetic change is achievable, and breeding programs should include in the breeding objectives genotypic fitness (for known QTLs) and fitness traits such as fertility and longevity, as well as production traits.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationAdaptation and Fitness in Animal Populations
    EditorsJulius van der Werf, Hans-Ulrich Graser, Richard Frankham, Cedric Gondro
    Place of PublicationDordrecht, Netherlands
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages3-14
    Edition1
    ISBN (Print)9781402090042, 1402090048
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics

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