Question

The initial frequency of the delta 32 allele (d32) is 0.01 in a population where 25% of the wild type and 25% of the heterozygotes have zero fitness while homozygotes (d32/d32) have full fitness. Under such circumstances how would selection change the allele frequency?

-Almost not at all

-Frequency of the delta 32 allele should quickly increase in frequency

-Frequency of the delta 32 allele should be lost

-Frequency of the wild type allele will slowly rise

Answer 1

The frequency of the delta 32 allele in the population will quickly increase due to the advantage in fitness of homozygous individuals carrying this allele.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question has to do with how selection will change the allele frequency of the delta 32 allele (d32) in a hypothetical population. Given the initial conditions that wild-type homozygotes and heterozygotes have reduced or zero fitness compared to d32 homozygotes, and the initial frequency of the d32 allele is 0.01, we can predict that the frequency of the delta 32 allele should quickly increase in frequency. This is because individuals carrying the d32/d32 genotype have full fitness and will contribute more offspring to the next generation. Over time, this will cause the allele frequency of d32 to increase in the population.