Final answer:
In a population with an inbreeding coefficient of 0.6, if the conditions remain the same for an additional generation, the frequency of heterozygotes will not decrease further solely due to inbreeding.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the frequency of heterozygotes in a population with a high inbreeding coefficient, it is important to recall the principles of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and how inbreeding affects genotype frequencies. With a given inbreeding coefficient (F) of 0.6, the reduction in heterozygosity can be calculated using the expected frequencies based on Hardy-Weinberg predictions and adjusting for inbreeding.
The Hardy-Weinberg principle, which describes a model for a population in genetic equilibrium, indicates the frequencies of AA, Aa, and aa genotypes can be calculated with p², 2pq, and q², where p and q are the frequencies of the A and a alleles, respectively, and p + q = 1. A population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium assumes random mating, no selection, no mutation, no migration, and a large population size.
If the inbreeding coefficient is F, the expected frequency of heterozygotes Aa is reduced to 2pq(1-F). Therefore, if we initially had a heterozygote frequency of 2pq in Hardy-Weinberg, and we assume no other changes, the frequency after one generation of inbreeding would be reduced by 60% due to the inbreeding coefficient of 0.6. Thus, if the inbreeding continues for an additional generation, we would not expect a further decrease in the proportion of heterozygotes due to inbreeding alone, unless the inbreeding coefficient increases.