Question

In the Hardy-Weinberg equation p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, 2pq represents

A. the frequency of homozygous recessive individuals.
B. the frequency of homozygous dominant individuals.
C. the frequency of heterozygous individuals.
D. the frequency of homozygous recessive and heterozygous individuals.
E. the frequency of homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals.

Answer 1

The term 2pq in the Hardy-Weinberg equation represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals in a population.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Hardy-Weinberg equation p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, the term 2pq represents the frequency of heterozygous individuals. Specifically, p denotes the frequency of the dominant allele, and q denotes the frequency of the recessive allele in a population. These allele frequencies are used to calculate genotype frequencies when a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium - a state in which the population's genetic structure does not change over time, assuming no mutations, random mating, no gene flow, no genetic drift, and no selection pressure.