Question

Summarize the logic behind Diaz et al.'s effort to establish the age of the 84GG allele in the Ashkenazim. What are the three possible causes of linkage disequilibrium, and how did Diaz et al. rule out two of them in this case? Could either of those two actually be a factor? What information did Diaz et al. have to know to calculate the age of the 84GGallele?

Answer 1

Diaz et al. utilized population genetics to estimate the age of the 84GG allele in Ashkenazim by ruling out genetic drift and recent mutation as causes for linkage disequilibrium.

Step-by-step explanation:

The logic behind Diaz et al.'s study to establish the age of the 84GG allele in Ashkenazim revolves around the use of population genetics principles to determine the frequency of genotypes resulting from known allele frequencies. Linkage disequilibrium, which refers to the non-random association of alleles at different loci, can be caused by three main factors: genetic drift, selection, and recent mutation. Diaz et al. aimed to rule out genetic drift and recent mutation as primary factors for the observed linkage disequilibrium.

To calculate the age of the allele, Diaz et al. had to take into account the observed frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype and apply the Hardy-Weinberg principle.