Final answer:
The allele frequency (or gene frequency) is the proportion of a specific allele within a population, relative to all other alleles of that gene that are present in the population. In population genetics, the term evolution is defined as a change in the frequency of an allele in a population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The allele frequency (or gene frequency) is the proportion of a specific allele within a population, relative to all other alleles of that gene that are present in the population. In population genetics, the term evolution is defined as a change in the frequency of an allele in a population.
Using the ABO blood type system as an example, the frequency of one of the alleles, IA, is the number of copies of that allele divided by all the copies of the ABO gene in the population. For example, a study in Jordan found a frequency of IA to be 26.1 percent. The IB and Iº alleles made up 13.4 percent and 60.5 percent of the alleles respectively, and all of the frequencies added up to 100 percent. A change in this frequency over time would constitute evolution in the population.