Question

Assertion : Hardy - Weinberg principle explains the variations occurring in population and species over a number of generations.

Reason : Hardy - Weinberg principle is applicable only when genetic drift occurs.

• A. Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion
• B. Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion
• C. Assertion is true but reason is false
• D. Both assertion and reason are false

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Both assertion and reason are false

The relative frequencies of alleles in large and randomly mating populations remain constant from generation to generation, provided there is no occurrence of mutation, genetic drift, recombination, gene flow and natural selection; this is called the Hardy-Weinberg principle .

Genetic drift can lead to the removal of certain alleles from the population. This leads to modification of allele frequency in the gene pool. So, genetic drift should not occur in order to maintain the equilibrium.