Final answer:
In the Hardy-Weinberg equation, 2pq represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals. For a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, certain conditions like no mutations and random mating must be met. This equation helps in understanding the genetic structure of a population.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Hardy-Weinberg Equation
In the Hardy-Weinberg equation, 2pq represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals in the population. This comes from the equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p is the frequency of the dominant allele, and q is the frequency of the recessive allele, with the requirement that p + q = 1.0. Therefore, based on the Hardy-Weinberg principle, the frequency of homozygous dominant individuals would be p², and the frequency of homozygous recessive individuals would be q².
To remain in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, a population must meet several conditions, such as no mutations, no gene flow, random mating, no genetic drift, and no selection. If these conditions are not met, the population may evolve, and allele frequencies will change over time, which is a deviation from the equilibrium.