1. The Hardy-Weinberg Principle

What is the Hardy-Weinberg principle?

A mathematical model that predicts the frequencies of alleles in a population won’t change from generation to the next.

What are the certain conditions the Hardy-Weinberg principle are true - 2

• It has to be a large population where there’s no immigration, emigration, mutations or natural selection.

• There needs to be random mating - all possible genotypes can breed with all others.

What is the HW equation used for? - 2

Used to estimate the frequency of particular alleles, genotypes and phenotypes.

Can also be used to test whether or not the Hardy Weinberg principle applies to particular alleles in particular populations, or to test whether selection or any other factors are influencing allele frequencies.

What is the HW equation for allele frequency

p+q= 1

p = the frequency of the dominant allele.

q = the frequency of the recessive allele.

What is the HW equation for genotype frequency

p² + 2pq + q² = 1

p² = frequency of homozygous dominant genotype

2pq = frequency of heterozygous genotype

q² = frequency of homozygous recessive genotype.