Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Heritability01:06

Heritability

Heritability is a statistical concept that measures the degree to which genetic differences among individuals contribute to trait variations within a population. It is a fundamental idea in genetics, often prone to misinterpretation. Heritability is expressed as a percentage, reflecting the proportion of variation in a specific trait across a population that can be linked to genetic differences. However, it's important to understand that heritability does not determine how "genetic" a trait is,...
X-linked Traits01:19

X-linked Traits

In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.
X-linked Traits01:19

X-linked Traits

In most mammalian species, females have two X sex chromosomes and males have an X and Y. As a result, mutations on the X chromosome in females may be masked by the presence of a normal allele on the second X. In contrast, a mutation on the X chromosome in males more often causes observable biological defects, as there is no normal X to compensate. Trait variations arising from mutations on the X chromosome are called “X-linked”.
The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes02:45

The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes

In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.  
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female Drosophila...
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Are functional deficits in concussed individuals consistent with white matter structural alterations: combined FMRI & DTI study.

Experimental brain research·2010
Same author

Postprandial lipaemia, oxidative stress and endothelial function: a review.

International journal of clinical practice·2010
Same author

Stability of crystalline sodium penicillin G.

The Pharmaceutical journal·2010
Same author

The problem of syphilis as seen by the Veterans Administration.

Journal of social hygiene·2010
Same author

Bacitracin therapy; Local treatment of the first 100 cases of antibiotic surgical infections.

Medizinische Nachrichten aus den Vereinigten Staaten·2010
Same author

Crystalline sodium penicillin G; some observations on its stability in solution and on related matters.

Quarterly journal of pharmacy and pharmacology·2010

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
06:38

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Realized heritability estimates in boars divergently selected for testosterone levels(1,) (2).

O W Robison1, D Lubritz, B Johnson

  • 1Department of Animal Science North Carolina State University, Raleigh, USA.

Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics = Zeitschrift Fur Tierzuchtung Und Zuchtungsbiologie
|March 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Selection for higher testosterone levels in Duroc boars resulted in a three-fold increase in testosterone production after 10 generations. This selection also led to significant improvements in litter size and correlated effects on growth and carcass traits.

More Related Videos

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
06:24

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Published on: January 10, 2025

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid
09:09

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Published on: August 8, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats
06:38

Determination of Reproductive Competence by Confirming Pubertal Onset and Performing a Fertility Assay in Mice and Rats

Published on: October 13, 2018

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
06:24

Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies

Published on: January 10, 2025

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid
09:09

Protocol for Assessing the Relative Effects of Environment and Genetics on Antler and Body Growth for a Long-lived Cervid

Published on: August 8, 2017

Area of Science:

  • Animal Breeding and Genetics
  • Reproductive Physiology
  • Quantitative Genetics

Background:

  • Testosterone plays a crucial role in male reproductive development and performance in livestock.
  • Understanding the heritability of testosterone production is essential for genetic improvement programs.
  • Previous research has explored genetic parameters for various production traits in swine.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate realized heritabilities for testosterone production in Duroc boars.
  • To investigate correlated responses in growth, carcass, and reproductive traits due to selection for testosterone levels.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of selection for divergent testosterone levels over 10 generations.

Main Methods:

  • Data collected from 100 sires and 891 Duroc boars over a 10-year period (1982-1992).
  • Testosterone levels measured from peripheral blood samples before (PRE) and after (POST) Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) challenge.
  • Realized heritabilities estimated using regression of response on cumulative selection differentials; correlated responses analyzed for testes volume (TVOL), days to 104 kg (DAYS104), number born alive (NBA), and backfat (FAT).

Main Results:

  • Realized heritability for POST testosterone was estimated at 0.24 ± 0.08 in the high line and 0.15 ± 0.18 in the low line.
  • After 10 generations, the high selection line exhibited approximately three times greater PRE and POST testosterone levels compared to the low line.
  • High line pigs showed a significant increase in number born alive (NBA) and a trend towards reduced days to 104 kg (DAYS104), increased backfat (FAT), and larger testes volume (TVOL).

Conclusions:

  • Selection for testosterone levels is feasible and can lead to significant genetic gains in boars.
  • Divergent selection for testosterone resulted in substantial increases in testosterone production and positively impacted reproductive traits like litter size.
  • Correlated responses suggest potential for simultaneous improvement of reproductive efficiency and certain production/carcass traits through selection on testosterone.