Question

Within the squirrel population at City Park, $16$% show the recessive phenotype of a curled tail $\left(tt\right)$.

The frequency of heterozygotes in the population is

• A. $0.08$
• B. $0.24$
• C. $0.36$
• D. $0.48$
• E. $0.64$

Answer 1

The correct option is D $0.48$

The Hardy–Weinberg principle states that "allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of other evolutionary influences". It is represented by equation p² + 2pq + q² = 1 and p+q =1. p2 stand for the AA homozygotes, q2 for the aa homozygotes, and 2pq for the heterozygotes.

Therefore if 16% of squirrel population is showing recessive trait, then q² = 16% which means q = 0.4 and therefore p = 0.6 and hence heterozygotes would be = 2pq = 2x0.4x0.6 = 0.48. Thus, the correct answer is option D.