Question

Population genetics makes use of ______________________, which are simple representations of a process that consists of only a few influential factors.

a)gene pools
b)mathematical models
c)evolutionary forces
d)genetic variations
e)allele frequencies

Answer 1

Population genetics uses mathematical models to represent processes by only focusing on the most influential factors like allele frequencies, and these models help predict evolutionary patterns in a gene pool over time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Population genetics makes use of mathematical models, which are simple representations of a process that consists of only a few influential factors. Population genetics, a science focusing on the forces of evolution at the level of allele frequencies in populations, involves representative variables in its models for simplification and analysis. For example, the variable p often represents the frequency of a particular dominant allele, while the variable q represents the frequency of a recessive allele. Together they add up to 1, reflecting the total allele frequency for a locus in the gene pool of a population.

An understanding of population genetics involves looking at how allele frequencies and the gene pool change over time due to mechanisms such as natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow. Using mathematical models, population geneticists can predict changes in allele frequencies, helping to explain and predict evolutionary patterns within populations.