Populations

Question 1

define species

Answer 1

group of organisms that can interbreed to produce fertile offspring

Question 2

define population

Answer 2

all organisms of a particular species live in the same place

Question 3

define gene pool

Answer 3

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

Question 4

define allele frequency

Answer 4

proportion of a certain allele within 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

assumptions made by Hardy Weinberg (5)

Answer 6

1. no mutations occur to create new alleles
2. no migration in or out of the population
3. no selection, so alleles are all equally passed onto next generation
4. random mating
5. large population

Question 7

explain the Hardy-Weinberg equation for calculating allele frequency

Answer 7

frequencies of each allele for a characteristic must add up to 1.0
p + q = 1
p = frequency of dominant
q = frequency of recessive

Question 8

explain the Hardy-Weinberg equation for calculating genotype frequency

Answer 8

frequencies of each genotype for characteristics must add up to 1.0
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