Question

Consider a population of beetles in which two spot patterns are observed, two-spotted or six-spotted. Two-spotted, T, is dominant to six-spotted, t. After monitoring this population closely for 10 generations, it is determined that the allele frequency for T is 0.40 and the allele frequency for t is 0.60 and it has not changed within the observation period. If you assume that Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium estalished, indicate the expected frequency of each genotype based on the equation for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

The equation for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium states that at a locus with two alleles, as in this flower population, the three genotypes will occur in specific proportions:

p² + 2pq + q² = 1

(Answers must be provided with the hundredth of a point. Round up on values of 5 or greater, if necessary.)

What is the genotype frequency for TT beetles?

Answer 1

Under the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with allele frequencies of T being 0.40 and t being 0.60, the expected genotype frequency for TT beetles is 0.40², which calculates to 16%.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question relates to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which is a principle that describes the expected frequencies of genotypes in a population that is not subject to evolutionary forces. According to this principle, using the frequencies of the alleles T (0.40) and t (0.60), we can calculate the expected genotype frequencies. In this case, the allele frequency for the dominant allele T is 0.40 (p = 0.40), and the frequency for the recessive allele t is 0.60 (q = 0.60).

To calculate the expected frequency of the TT (homozygous dominant) genotype, we use the equation p², which represents the probability of an individual receiving two dominant alleles. Plugging in our values, we get 0.40² (0.40 x 0.40), which equals 0.16 or 16%. Therefore, the expected genotype frequency for TT beetles is 16% in a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.