Truncation selection

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Truncation selection is a selection method in selective breeding and in evolutionary algorithms from computer science, which selects a certain share of fittest individuals from a population for reproduction in the next generation.

In animal and plant breeding, truncation selection is a standard method. Animals are ranked by their phenotypic value on some trait such as milk production, and the top percentage is reproduced. The effects of truncation selection for a continuous trait can be modeled by the standard breeder's equation by using heritability and truncated normal distributions. On a binary trait, it can be modeled easily using the liability threshold model. It is considered an easy and efficient method of breeding.

In computer science, truncation selection is a selection method used in evolutionary algorithms to select potential candidate solutions for recombination modeled after the breeding method. In truncation selection the candidate solutions are ordered by fitness, and some proportion T% of the top fittest individuals are selected and reproduced randomly. It is used in Muhlenbein's breeder genetic algorithm.

• "Chapter 14: Short-term Changes in the Mean: 2. Truncation and Threshold Selection"
• Crow 2010, "On epistasis: why it is unimportant in polygenic directional selection"
• Visscher et al. 2008, "Heritability in the genomics era - concepts and misconceptions"
• Visscher 2016, "Human Complex Trait Genetics in the 21st Century"
• Weight & Harpending 2016, "Some Uses of Models of Quantitative Genetic Selection in Social Science"
• Frost & Harpending 2015, "Western Europe, state formation, and genetic pacification"