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The model of mating from which Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is derived assumes that a population is infinite in size. true or false?

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Final answer:

The model of mating from which Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is derived indeed assumes a population is infinite in size, which is true. This assumption helps ensure that allele frequencies remain constant across generations, provided other conditions are also met.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium is derived from a model that assumes a population is infinite in size is true. The Hardy-Weinberg principle operates under a set of ideal conditions, one of which is a very large population size, conceptualized as being infinite.

The principle outlines that allele frequencies and genotype proportions in a population will remain constant from one generation to the next if certain conditions are met. These conditions include no mutation, no migration, a very large population size, random mating, and no natural selection.

While no real population can perfectly satisfy an infinite population condition, it is a theoretical requirement to ensure that the genetic drift (random fluctuations in allele frequencies) is negligible, which is more likely in very large populations.

User Neill Herbst
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