lab 2: mathematical modeling: Hardy-Weinberg

goal of this investigation

lets you build upon what you learned from Investigation 1, the idea that natural selection and how it changes a population. Use alleles as a point of comparison to see if allelic frequencies are actually changing in your population

model how allele frequencies change in a generation of some imaginary population using a computer model

basic setup

use tools like computer programs and spreadsheets, you can model how a hypothetical gene pool changes from generation to generation

eg. how could you make the ratio of 0.5 of Hardy-Weinberg equation change?

results

• have to know the hardy-Weinberg equations

• can design an experiment to measure the effect of selection, heterozygote advantage, and genetic drift through the computer model

selection

process where organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce

eg. homozygous recessive man does not survive because of a condition, causes a shift in allele frequencies to include more A than a children

heterozygote advantage

being heterozygous has some benefit (eg sickle cell for malaria)

deleterious alleles (harmful when homozygous) decrease in frequency over time