Linearity Versus nonlinearity of offspring-parent regression: an experimental study of Drosophila melanogaster

An experiment was conducted to investigate the offspring-parent regression for three quantitative traits (weight, abdominal bristles and wing length) in Drosophila melanogaster. Linear and polynomial models were fitted for the regressions of a character in offspring on both parents. It is demonstrated that responses by the characters to selection predicted by the nonlinear regressions may differ substantially from those predicted by the linear regressions. This is true even, and especially, if selection is weak. The realized heritability for a character under selection is shown to be determined not only by the offspring-parent regression but also by the distribution of the character and by the form and strength of selection.