additive genetic variance

Additive genetic variance refers to the portion of genetic influence on a trait that results from the combined effect of individual genes adding up to determine that trait. It reflects how much of the variation in a characteristic, like height or eye color, can be attributed to the additive effects of genes inherited from parents. This type of variance is important because it predicts how traits can respond to natural selection or selective breeding, as it indicates the potential for a trait to change across generations based on genetic contributions that combine in a straightforward, summative way.