Question

A certain butterfly species has two color forms that are produced by a simple autosomal gene with complete dominance. A biologist surveys a population of these butterflies five times over two decades, and each time the proportions are 75% dominant phenotype, 25% recessive phenotype. Which of the following is a reasonable inference (conclusion based on evidence) based on this information?A. The dominant phenotype is better suited to the environment than the recessive phenotype.B. Two of the above answers are correct.C. This population is unstable and evolving.D. Butterflies with the dominant phenotype produce more successful offspring than butterflies with the recessive phenotype.E. This population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium

Answer 1

E. This population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

Step-by-step explanation:

A population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium maintains constant allele and genotype frequencies over generations. To obtain the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, none of the evolutionary forces (genetic drift, mutation, natural selection, etc.) should be operative on the gene pool as they deviate the population from the equilibrium.

According to the given information, the allele frequencies and hence the genotype frequencies in a population of butterflies are constant over two decades. This shows that the population is at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and is not evolving.