1. What is the Hardy-Weinberg Principle?

The Hardy-Weinberg principle is a fundamental concept in population genetics that describes the relationship between allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in an ideal, non-evolving population. It states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Hardy-Weinberg equations:

Where:

• \( p \) — Frequency of the dominant allele (dimensionless)
• \( q \) — Frequency of the recessive allele (dimensionless)
• \( p^2 \) — Frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
• \( 2pq \) — Frequency of heterozygous genotype
• \( q^2 \) — Frequency of homozygous recessive genotype

Explanation: The principle assumes a large, randomly mating population with no mutations, migration, selection, or genetic drift.

3. Importance of Allele Frequency Calculation

Details: Understanding allele frequencies is crucial for studying population genetics, evolutionary biology, genetic diseases, and conservation biology. It helps predict genotype frequencies and detect evolutionary forces acting on populations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the frequency of the dominant allele (p) as a value between 0 and 1. The calculator will compute the recessive allele frequency (q) and all genotype frequencies.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A: The assumptions are: 1) No mutations, 2) Random mating, 3) No natural selection, 4) Extremely large population size, and 5) No gene flow.

Q2: How can I tell if a population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A: Compare observed genotype frequencies with expected frequencies calculated from allele frequencies using a chi-square test.

Q3: What does it mean if a population deviates from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A: Deviation suggests that one or more of the equilibrium assumptions are being violated, indicating evolutionary forces at work.

Q4: Can this be used for genes with more than two alleles?
A: The basic principle can be extended to multiple alleles, but this calculator only handles two-allele systems.

Q5: How accurate is this for real populations?
A: While few natural populations perfectly meet all assumptions, it provides a useful null model for detecting evolutionary influences.