Final Answer:
The frequency of allele a (q) is 0.2, and the frequency of allele A(p) is 0.8. The frequency of the heterozygote genotype (Aa) is 0.32.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a population under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequencies of alleles A and a are represented by p and q, respectively. The sum of these frequencies is always 1. Given that the frequency of homozygous recessive individuals (aa) is 0.04, we can directly equate this to the square of the frequency of a (q^2). Therefore, q^2 = 0.04. Taking the square root of both sides, we find that the frequency of a (q) is 0.2.
Now, to find the frequency of A (p), we subtract q from 1 (p = 1 - q). Therefore, p = 1 - 0.2, giving us a value of 0.8 for the frequency of A.
The frequency of heterozygotes (Aa) can be determined using the formula 2 * p * q. Substituting the values we found earlier, we get 2 * 0.8 * 0.2 = 0.32. Thus, the frequency of the heterozygote genotype is 0.32.
In summary, the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium allows us to calculate allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in a population. In this case, the frequency of allele a (q) is 0.2, the frequency of allele A (p) is 0.8, and the frequency of the heterozygote genotype (Aa) is 0.32. These calculations provide insights into the genetic composition of a population and can be crucial in understanding evolutionary processes.