In a poppopulation of 800,approximately 16% ofpersons have ear lobes attached to the side of the face (recessive phenotype). Calculate the frequency of the dominant allele?

1 Answer
Nam D.
May 14, 2018

I get #84%#.

Explanation:

The Hardy-Weinberg equation states that,

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

where:

  • #p# is the frequency of the recessive alleles #(aa)#

  • #2pq# is the frequency of the heterozygous alleles #(Aa)#

  • #q# is the frequency of the dominant alleles #(A\A)#

Factoring, we get:

#(p+q)^2=1#

Plugging in our given values, we get:

#(0.16+q)^2=1#

#0.16+q=sqrt(1)=1# #(because \ "the population must be positive")#

#q=1-0.16#

#=0.84#

Therefore, the frequency of the dominant allele will be #84%#.

Related questions
Impact of this question
677 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License