Introduction to population genetics

Question 1

Define:
Locus (loci)

Answer 1

the physical position of a gene or marker along a chromosome

Question 2

Define:
Allele

Answer 2

the different forms of a gene

Question 3

Define:
Diploid organism

Answer 3

two alleles make up the genotype

Question 4

Define:
Homozygote

Answer 4

individual with two identical alleles

Question 5

Define:
Heterozygote

Answer 5

individual with two different alleles

Question 6

Define:
Polymorphism

Answer 6

gene or phenotype with more than one form

Question 7

Highly useful formulae

Answer 7

Frequency of one allele in the population is represented by p and the other by q

p+q = 1

Question 8

Learn some applications of HWE

Answer 8

Provides description of how genetic variation is maintained

Used to show how blending inheritance does not happen

Testing for genetic equilibrium

Estimating allele frequencies

Identifying population substructure

Estimating inbreeding coefficients

Detecting natural selection

Forensic genetics

Conservation genetics

Question 9

Discuss causes of departures from HWE

Answer 9

Non-random mating

Genetic drift

Mutation

Migration

Natural selection

Assortative mating

Inbreeding

Errors in genotyping

Question 10

Non-random mating, migration, population structure

Answer 10

Migration can restore genetic variation

When the population is subdivided into small isolated local populations, genetic variation can be eroded

Departure from HWE can indicate natural selection