Question

You are studying a population of guppies and you observe that there are two alleles for tail length. Allele 1 codes for long tails and is dominant over allele 2, which codes for short tails. Allele 2 is at a frequency of 10?

1) -0.01
2) -0.18
3) -0.50
4) -0.81
5) -0.95

Answer 1

The study of allele frequencies and genetic structure within a population aids in understanding phenotype distribution and the evolution of the species. By applying the Hardy-Weinberg principle, scientists can calculate genotype frequencies and detect evolutionary changes over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

When studying allele frequencies and genetic structure in a population, biologists aim to understand phenotype distribution and evolution. In the context of a population that exhibits two alleles for a trait, allele frequencies can be calculated to predict the frequency of genotypes. If we denote the frequency of the dominant allele as p and the recessive allele as q, and if there are no other alleles for that trait in the population, then p + q = 1. The genotype frequencies in the population can be represented as p² (homozygous dominant), 2pq (heterozygous), and q² (homozygous recessive), following the Hardy-Weinberg principle which states that p² + 2pq + q² = 1.

The change in allele frequencies over time indicates evolution within the population. For example, if the initial frequency of allele a in a population is 0.10, and it changes after a certain period, this change demonstrates evolutionary processes at work. Observing these changes, scientists can infer evolutionary dynamics and make predictions about future genetic structure in the population.