Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Definition

• A mathematical model describing the genetic structure of a population at equilibrium
• Assumes a population is not evolving and is in a state of genetic equilibrium

Conditions for Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

1. Random mating: Mating is random and not influenced by genetic factors
2. No mutation: No new mutations occur in the population
3. No gene flow: There is no migration of individuals into or out of the population
4. No genetic drift: The population is large enough to ignore random changes in allele frequencies
5. No natural selection: There is no differential reproduction or survival of individuals based on their genotype

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation

• p and q represent the frequencies of two alleles (A and a) in a population
• p + q = 1 (the sum of the frequencies of both alleles is equal to 1)
• p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1 (the Hardy-Weinberg equation)

Interpretation of the Equation

• p^2 represents the frequency of homozygous dominant (AA) individuals
• 2pq represents the frequency of heterozygous (Aa) individuals
• q^2 represents the frequency of homozygous recessive (aa) individuals

Applications of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

• Testing for genetic equilibrium: Used to determine if a population is in genetic equilibrium or if evolutionary forces are acting on the population
• Calculating allele frequencies: Used to calculate the frequencies of alleles in a population
• Predicting genotype frequencies: Used to predict the frequencies of different genotypes in a population

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Definition and Assumptions

• Describes the genetic structure of a population at equilibrium, assuming no evolution and genetic equilibrium

Conditions for Equilibrium

• Random mating occurs, without genetic influence
• No new mutations occur in the population
• No gene flow: no migration into or out of the population
• No genetic drift: population is large enough to ignore random changes
• No natural selection: no differential reproduction or survival based on genotype

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Equation

• p and q represent frequencies of two alleles (A and a) in a population
• p + q = 1, sum of frequencies of both alleles equals 1
• p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1, the Hardy-Weinberg equation

Equation Interpretation

• p^2: frequency of homozygous dominant (AA) individuals
• 2pq: frequency of heterozygous (Aa) individuals
• q^2: frequency of homozygous recessive (aa) individuals

Applications of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

• Testing for genetic equilibrium: determines if a population is in equilibrium or affected by evolutionary forces
• Calculating allele frequencies: determines frequencies of alleles in a population
• Predicting genotype frequencies: determines frequencies of different genotypes in a population