7. Population genetics selection

Question 1

HWE principle

Answer 1

• In a population allele frequency are fixed over generations, and independent of genotype frequencies
• Genotype frequencies become stable after one generation of random mating and remain constant in subsequent generations

Question 2

Assumptions for HW equilibrium

Answer 2

• Panmixis (random mating)
• Infinite population size (no drift)
• No migration between populations (gene flow)
• No mutation
• No selection: all individuals survive and reproduce at equal rates

Question 3

Why is the H-W model so important in evolutionary biology?

Answer 3

The way a population deviates from H-W equilibrium tells us that there are evolutionary forces acting on individuals in the population, and thereby indirectly on the alleles they carry&raquo_space; may cause changes in allele frequencies > evolutionary change