Inbreeding in artificial selection programmes

Abstract

In a population under artificial selection, the effective population size may be less than the actual number of parents selected because there will be variation between families in the character under selection and consequently in the probability of selection. Expressions are developed for the magnitude of the effect, which will be greater the more intense the selection and the higher the heritability of the selected character. The inbreeding due to outstanding individuals may rise for several generations after their use.