In a message dated 23/01/04 05:03:27 GMT Standard Time,Jim writes:


> but I do have one question
> that has nagged at me for years.
>
> The question involves "regression to the mean",
> and "polygenic traits".
>
> The traits of value in beekeeping are complex -
> much more complex than the simple examples of
> "blue eyed versus brown eyed" offspring that
> are used as examples in school.
>
It rather depends what mean means.  I once used the word to describe myself
on a US based list and was told that I should have written parsimonious.  I
could have written stingy with a soft g but possibly Jim means stingy with a hard
g in this instance.  Or possibly the geometric mean of n genes affecting
polygenic traits; or even the arithmetic mean generally loosely known as the
average.

Whatever he means, I think the answer lies in the drones.  If the queens
produced are less fit (in Darwinian terms) for the environment in which they be
than those that are more so, then they will produce less drones and so shall
have less influence on subsequent generations.

Then we have a problem of perception.  The beekeeper, looking perhaps for
good temper, or fecundity out of season, will perceive regression to the mean.
Darwin on the other hand would perceive adaptation to the local environment.

Chris

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