populations

Question 1

Define species.

Answer 1

A group of organisms that can interbred 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

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

Question 6

Give the assumptions made by the Hardy-Weinberg principle.

Answer 6

No mutations occur to make 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 add up to 1. The equation is therefore; p + q = 1.
Where p = frequency of the dominant allele, and 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 characteristic must add up to 1. The equation is therefore; p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1.
Where p^2 = frequency of homozygous dominant, 2pq = frequency of heterozygous, and q^2 = frequency of homozygous recessive.