Populations

Question 1

Define population.

Answer 1

A group of organisms of the same species occupying a particular space at a particular time that can potentially interbreed.

Question 2

Define gene pool.

Answer 2

All the alleles of all the genes within a population at one time.

Question 3

Define allele frequency.

Answer 3

The proportion of an allele within the gene pool.

Question 4

What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle assume?

Answer 4

Allele frequencies will not change from generation to generation.

Question 5

What conditions are required for the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

Answer 5

• Large population
• No immigration/emigration (no alleles introduced/removed)
• No mutations arising (no new alleles created)
• No natural selection (no alleles are favoured)
• Mating is random