The Joy of Population Genetics

What factors do biologists consider when determining if a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?

Answer:

B. Genotype frequencies

Population genetics is such an exciting field! When biologists analyze whether a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, they take into account several key factors. These factors include:

1. Mutation: The population should not be experiencing mutations that could alter the genetic makeup.

2. Natural Selection: If natural selection is not actively taking place, it helps maintain the equilibrium.

3. Population Size: Ideally, the population should be infinitely large to prevent genetic drift.

4. Reproduction: All members of the population should be reproducing to maintain genetic variation.

5. Random Mating: The individuals in the population should be mating randomly to prevent changes in allele frequencies.

6. Equal Offspring Production: Each individual should produce the same number of offspring to prevent bias.

7. Migration: The population should not be receiving genetic input from external sources to maintain equilibrium.

When all these factors are in place, biologists can calculate the genotype frequencies and determine if the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.