Final answer:
The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium describes conditions for a non-evolving population, with constants p² + 2pq + q² = 1 representing genotype frequencies. Five conditions for this equilibrium include no mutation, no gene flow, random mating, no genetic drift, and no natural selection. Deviations from this state indicate evolution is occurring in the population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is a fundamental concept in population genetics that describes conditions under which a population's allele and genotype frequencies will remain constant from one generation to the next, implying that no evolution is occurring. The five conditions that must be met for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium are no mutation, no gene flow (migration), random mating, no genetic drift (which is more likely in small populations), and no natural selection. When these conditions are met, the genotype frequencies can be calculated using the equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p is the frequency of the dominant allele and q is the frequency of the recessive allele. If any of these conditions are not met, the population may evolve, and allele frequencies can change, which is observed in nature due to forces such as mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection acting on populations.
As for the correct set of assumptions that must be met according to the Hardy-Weinberg principle, the answer is option A: No mutation, random mating, no gene flow, infinite population size, and no natural selection. The other options include factors that would disrupt the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.