Question

What are the five assumptions that must be made for the Hardy-Weinberg genetic equilibrium to apply to a population?

Answer 1

The Hardy-Weinberg principle's five assumptions for genetic equilibrium are no mutation, no migration, very large population size, random mating, and no natural selection.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Assumptions

The Hardy-Weinberg principle outlines the conditions under which a population's genetic makeup remains constant over time. The five assumptions necessary for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are:

1. No mutation occurring that can alter the DNA sequence and thus the allele frequencies.
2. No migration, meaning no movement of individuals into or out of the population that could change allele frequencies.
3. A very large population size to minimize the effects of genetic drift.
4. Random mating among individuals occurs, ensuring all alleles are equally likely to be passed on.
5. No natural selection where certain alleles provide a reproductive advantage or disadvantage.

When these five conditions are met, the allele and genotype frequencies in the population will remain constant from one generation to the next, which means no evolution is taking place in the context of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.