7.2 Populations

Question 1

Define species

Answer 1

A group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

Define population

Answer 2

All the organisms of a particular species that live in the same place

Question 3

Define gene pool

Answer 3

The range of different alleles existing for a particular locus within a population

Question 4

Define allele frequency

Answer 4

The proportion of a certain allele within a gene pool, expressed as a decimal or percentage

Question 5

What is the hardy-Weinberg principle

Answer 5

Allow us to estimate the frequency of alleles in a population, as well as if allele frequency is changing over time

Question 6

Give the assumption made by the hardy-Weinberg principle

Answer 6

No mutation occur to create new alleles
No migration in or out of the population
No selection, so alleles are all equally passed on to the next generation
Random mating
Large population

Question 7

Explain the hardy-Weinberg equation for calculating allele frequency

Answer 7

The frequencies of each allele for a characteristic must ass up to 1.0 . The equation is therefore; p+q=1

Where P = frequency of the dominant allele
Where q= frequency of the recessive allele

Question 8

Explain the hardy-Weinberg equation for calculating genotype frequency

Answer 8

The frequencies of each genotype for a characteristics must add up to 1.0. The equation is therefore; p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1
Where p^2 = frequency of homozygous dominant
2pq = frequency of heterozygous
q^2 = frequency of homozygous recessive