Question

Which of the following will lead to a change in the allele frequencies of a population?

• A. Members of a population of honeycreepers (birds) are localized to one particular island in Hawaii.
• B. Fruit flies in a population mate at random.
• C. A population of chipmunks in a forest is separated from other populations of chipmunks by a large grove of trees.
• D. A population of rats numbers in the hundreds of millions.
• E. A population of squirrels is sharply reduced in size by a parasite.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Members of a population of honeycreepers (birds) are localized to one particular island in Hawaii.

The Hardy-Weinberg law or Hardy-Weinberg theorem or Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is the fundamental law of population genetics which provides the basis for studying the Mendelian populations. This law was independently developed by GH Hardy, an English mathematician and G Weinberg, a German physician in 1908. This law states that genes and genotypic frequencies in a mendelian population remain constant generation after generation, if there is no selection, mutation, migration or random drift.

Thus the original proportions of the genotype in a population will remain constant from generation to generation, as long as the following assumptions are met:

1. The population size is very large.

2. No genes are input from other sources i.e. no gene flow takes place.

3. No mutation takes place.

4. No natural selection occurs.

5. Random mating is occurring.

Among all the options, option A is against the conditions of Hardy-Weinberg law as this is showing that the population is not large. Hence, the allele frequencies will change.

So, the correct answer is 'Members of a population of honeycreepers (birds) are localized to one particular island in Hawaii'.