1. What is the Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium?

The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is a principle stating that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences (mutation, selection, genetic drift, etc.).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Hardy-Weinberg equation:

Where:

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

Explanation: The equation describes the relationship between allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in an ideal, non-evolving population.

3. Importance of Hardy-Weinberg Principle

Details: The principle serves as a null model in population genetics. Deviations from expected frequencies can indicate evolutionary forces at work (selection, migration, etc.) or non-random mating patterns.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter allele frequencies (p + q must be ≤ 1). The calculator will output expected genotype frequencies under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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

Q2: How is this used in real-world genetics?
A: It's used to estimate carrier frequencies for genetic diseases, test for evolutionary forces, and validate genetic association studies.

Q3: What does it mean if observed frequencies differ from expected?
A: This suggests one or more assumptions are violated, indicating possible inbreeding, selection, genetic drift, or other evolutionary processes.

Q4: Can this be used for multiple alleles?
A: Yes, the principle can be extended to multiple alleles with the general formula (p + q + r + ...)² = 1.

Q5: How accurate is this for small populations?
A: Less accurate due to greater impact of genetic drift. The model works best for large, randomly mating populations.