Population genetics and Hardy-Weinberg Principle

population genetics

the study of genetic variation within populations, and involves the examination and modelling of changes in the frequencies of genes and alleles in populations over space and time.

Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

States that genetic variation in a population will remain constant from one generation to the next in absence of disturbing factors. When mating is random in large population with no disruptive circumstances law predicts that both genotype and allele frequencies will remain constant bc in equilibrium

• no change in allele frequency of pop over time

Disturbances of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

• mutations - adds new alleles and is a source of variation

• natural selection - can increase or decrease certain phenotypes

• non-random mating - not all individuals will get to pass on the next generation

• genetic drift - can randomly alter allele frequencies

• gene flow - can add or remove alleles in a population

maintain equilibrium

• random mating no sexual selection

• no mutations (Creation of new alleles)

• large population size (decreases effect of genetic drift)

• no migration (introduces or removes alleles)

• no natural selection (no alleles are fitter than others

If not met principle doesn’t apply and evolution can occur

how is equation expressed

mathematically by giving the frequency of all the allele types in a population