Final answer:
A population with an allele frequency of 1.0 is considered 'fixed' for that allele, signifying complete homozygosity and lack of genetic diversity at that gene locus. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium models allele frequencies in a population, and a frequency of 1.0 would reflect a state not influenced by natural selection for that allele.
Step-by-step explanation:
A population having an allele frequency of 1.0 for some allele is said to be fixed for that allele. This means that every individual in the population is homozygous for that allele, and there is no variation at this gene locus within the population. It is a state where an allele has reached a frequency of 100% in the population, and it represents a lack of genetic diversity for that specific gene.
The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium provides a mathematical model to help us understand allele frequencies in a population. When a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, it is assumed that allele frequencies remain consistent across generations, with no evolutionary forces affecting them. However, when a population has an allele frequency of 1.0, it is not undergoing natural selection for that particular allele as there is no alternative form of the gene to be selected for or against.
Using the Hardy-Weinberg principle, namely the equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p and q represent the frequencies of two alleles, if a population has an allele frequency of p = 1, then we can conclude that the entire population consists of the homozygous genotype (AA) for that allele, as 1² = 1, with no other genotype present.