Final answer:
The mutation-selection balance in population genetics determines the mutation rate needed to maintain a specific allele frequency despite selection against it. In this case, the student is asked to calculate the mutation rate (E) to (e) to keep the (e) allele frequency at 0.002 under selection pressure where (ee) has low fitness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is inquiring about the mutation-selection balance concept in population genetics, which is a balance between selection removing deleterious alleles and new mutations introducing them.
To maintain a recessive allele (e) at a frequency of 0.002 in the population of pig frogs (where the (ee) genotype has a fitness of 0.1 compared to a fitness of 1 for both (Ee) and (EE) genotypes), you would perform a calculation that takes into account the fitness reduction due to the allele's negative effect on survival.
By using the mutation-selection balance equation, q = √(μ/s), where q is the frequency of the recessive allele, μ is the mutation rate from (E) to (e), and s is the selection coefficient against the genotype (ee). In this case, the recessive allele frequency (q) is given as 0.002, and the selection coefficient (s) is 1 - fitness of (ee) which is 0.9. Plugging in the numbers, you would solve for the mutation rate (μ).