Skip to content

Hardy-Weinberg equations

Tags
bio/eco
cegep/3
Word count
149 words
Reading time
1 minute

Equations used to predict:

  • The allele and genotype relative frequencies in a stable population
  • Whether a population is stable or evolving

Assume the population is stable, let p and q be relative frequencies of the dominant and recessive alleles respectively, then:

p2+2pq+q2=1p+q=1

Examples

In a Hardy-Weinberg population, 4% have cystic fibrosis caused by the recessive allele. What is the percent of carriers (heterozygous individuals) of this disease in this population?

q2=0.04q=0.2p+q=1p=0.82pq=0.32

We observe 60% AA individuals and 40% aa individuals. Is the population stable?

Because there is no Aa individual, the Hardy-Weinberg equation is not satisfied, so the population is not stable.

Contributors

Changelog