Question #741a4

1 Answer
Sep 28, 2017

#p^2+2pq+q^2=1#

Explanation:

The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium shows allele frequency in a population.

p represents the percentage of alleles that are of the dominant trait. q represents the percentage of alleles that are of the recessive trait.

Therefore, #p+q# should equal #100%# or #1#.

Since #1^2=1#, we can square #(p+q)# and have it still equal #1#.

#(p+q)^2=p^2+2pq+q^2#

#p^2# is equal to the percent of organisms homozygous for the dominant allele. #2pq# is equal to the percent of organisms that are heterozygous. #q^2# is equal to the percent of organisms homozygous for the recessive trait.

When given any of these percentages- except for the percent of organisms that are heterozygous- one may solve for all the other values. This can tell you the genotypic composition of a population.