Final answer:
Relatedness in biology refers to the degree of genetic similarity between individuals. It is a measure of how closely related two individuals are in terms of their shared genes. Understanding relatedness is crucial in various fields of biology, including evolutionary biology, conservation genetics, and population genetics.
Step-by-step explanation:
Relatedness in biology refers to the degree of genetic similarity between individuals. It is a measure of how closely related two individuals are in terms of their shared genes. Relatedness is often quantified using techniques such as genetic analysis and pedigree analysis.
For example, siblings have a higher relatedness compared to cousins because they share more genes inherited from their parents. On the other hand, unrelated individuals have low relatedness as they share fewer common genes.
Understanding relatedness is crucial in various fields of biology, including evolutionary biology, conservation genetics, and population genetics.