In a population of giraffes in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the dominant allele D occurs with a frequency of 0.4. What is the frequency of heterozygous individuals?

Question

In a population of giraffes in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the dominant allele D occurs with a frequency of 0.4. What is the frequency of heterozygous individuals?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Hardy-Weinberg uses allele frequencies p and q (p + q = 1) and predicts genotype frequencies p^2 (homozygous dominant), 2pq (heterozygous), and q^2 (homozygous recessive).

1. Relevant concepts
- p = frequency of dominant allele (D). q = frequency of recessive allele (d).
- In a large, random-mating population with no evolutionary forces, genotype frequencies are: p^2 (DD), 2pq (Dd), q^2 (dd).
- The heterozygous frequency is 2pq.

2. Step-by-step reasoning
- Given: p = frequency of D = 0.4.
- Use p + q = 1 to find q: q = 1 − p.

3. Calculations with intermediate steps
- q = 1 − 0.4 = 0.6.
- Heterozygote frequency = 2pq = 2 × 0.4 × 0.6.
- Compute: 0.4 × 0.6 = 0.24.
- Then 2 × 0.24 = 0.48.

4. Why this answer is correct
- The heterozygous genotype frequency in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is exactly 2pq. Plugging the given allele frequency p = 0.4 and the derived q = 0.6 yields 2(0.4)(0.6) = 0.48, so 48% of individuals are expected to be heterozygous.

5. Why the other options are incorrect
- b. 0.16 equals p^2 (0.4^2), which would be the frequency of homozygous dominant (DD), not heterozygotes.
- c. 0.36 equals q^2 (0.6^2), the frequency of homozygous recessive (dd).
- d. 0.60 is q, the allele frequency of the recessive allele, not a genotype frequency.

6. Conclusion
- The heterozygous frequency is 0.48, matching answer choice a. 0.48.

In a population of giraffes in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the dominant allele D occurs with a frequency of 0.4. What is the frequency of heterozygous individuals?单项选择题

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