7.2.3 Hardy-Weinberg

• Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) describes how allele frequencies change over time when certain conditions are met
• Hardy Weinberg Equation predicts the frequency of alleles in a population
• q = recessive
• p = dominant
• Assumptions made by HWE

  1. Population is large
  2. Organisms are diploid
  3. Organisms reproduce only by sexual reproduction
  4. No changes occurring to the genetic diversity of the population (eg immigration/emigration, mutation, directional selection)
  5. Mating is random
  6. Allele Frequencies are equal in both sexes
  7. There is no overlap between generations of organisms
• Hardy-Weinberg Equation:

  • p + q = 1
  • p2 + q2 + 2pq = 1
• p2  = homozygous dominant (BB)
• q2  = homozygous recessive (bb)
• 2pq  = heterozygous (Bb)