Question

If the frequency measured in a Hardy-Weinberg population is different from the expected, then the difference in value indicates:

• A. extent of mutation in the population
• B. extent of external change
• C. extent of evolutionary change
• D. that the population is in the Hardy - Weinberg equilibrium

Answer 1

The correct option is C extent of evolutionary change

According to the Hardy - Weinberg principle, allele frequencies in a population are stable and remain constant from generation to generation if the forces of evolution are not acting on it. This is explained using the algebraic equation p + q = 1, where,
p = frequency of the dominant allele
q = frequency of the recessive allele

If the measured frequency is different from the expected frequency then the change is interpreted as the extent of evolution in that population.