Final answer:
Both positive and negative assortative mating lead to Hardy-Weinberg Disequilibrium. For positive assortative mating, there is a decrease in heterozygotes, while negative assortative mating can lead to an increase in heterozygotes. The correct answer is D) Disequilibrium; decrease; increase. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both types of assortative mating cause Hardy-Weinberg Disequilibrium, with heterozygote decrease or increase. The correct answer is D) Disequilibrium; decrease; increase. Assortative mating is when individuals tend to mate with those who are phenotypically similar to themselves.
This non-random mating can lead to a change in allele frequencies within a population since individuals with similar genotypes are more likely to mate and produce offspring with similar genotypes.
In positive assortative mating, individuals with similar phenotypes are more likely to mate, which increases homozygosity and thus leads to a decrease in heterozygotes. Conversely, in negative assortative mating, individuals with dissimilar phenotypes are more likely to mate, which increases heterozygosity and can lead to an increase in heterozygotes.
Both scenarios disrupt the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium, which is dependent on random mating together with other assumptions such as no mutations, no gene flow, no genetic drift, and no selection.