Question

What will most likely happen if the gene frequencies in a given population remain constant?

Answer 1

If the gene frequencies in a population remain constant, it implies that the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, where allele and genotype frequencies are stable. However, natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, and migration can disrupt this equilibrium.

Step-by-step explanation:

In biology, if the gene frequencies in a given population remain constant, it suggests that the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. This means that the allele frequencies and genotype frequencies within the population are stable and do not change from one generation to the next. However, in reality, there are usually evolutionary forces, such as natural selection, mutation, genetic drift, and migration, that can cause changes in gene frequencies.

Answer 2

When gene frequencies stay relatively constant, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium occurs. HW equilibrium occurs in large populations with random mating, with no migration, mutation, or natural selection. In this case, the proportion of dominant homozygous equals the square of the frequency of the dominant allele (p2), the proportion of recessive homozygous equals the square of the frequency of the recessive allele (q2) and the proportion of heterozygotes equals 2pq.