Answer:
0.976 or 97.6%
Explanation:
To calculate the frequency of the recessive allele, we need to use the information provided about the frequency of the dominant trait.
Let's assume that the particular dominant trait is determined by a single gene with two alleles: the dominant allele (A) and the recessive allele (a).
Given that 45 out of 1,000 babies are born with the dominant trait, we can infer that the remaining babies (1,000 - 45 = 955) do not have the dominant trait and can be considered as the recessive trait carriers.
The frequency of the recessive allele (q) can be calculated using the Hardy-Weinberg equation:
q = sqrt((Recessive individuals) / (Total individuals))
In this case, the total number of individuals is 1,000, and the number of recessive individuals is 955.
q = sqrt(955 / 1,000)
Using a calculator, we can find the value:
q ≈ 0.976
Therefore, the frequency of the recessive allele is approximately 0.976 or 97.6%.