Genetic variation in a measure of avoidance learning in swine.

Abstract

Differences among individuals in response to avoidance learning situations are usually maximal when the average probability of avoidance is near 1/2. This average was realized in the 3rd set of 10 trials given 572 young swine. The purpose of this work was to measure the relative amount of variance that is of genetic origin in number of avoidances made by Ss in the 3rd set of 10 trials. Genetic variance was separated from other sources by using the correlation between numbers of avoidances made by related individuals. Nearly 50% of the variance among pigs belonging to relatively homogeneous groups was attributable to additively genetic causes. Clearly, differences among individuals for this measure of learning ability in swine are in¬fluenced by the heredity of the individuals.