Hardy-Weinberg Equation
Hardy-Weinberg Principle
- The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that if certain conditions are met, the allele frequencies of a gene within a population will not change from one generation to the next
- There are several conditions or assumptions that must be met for the Hardy-Weinberg principle to hold true:
- Mating must be random between individuals
- The population is infinitely large
- There is no migration, mutation or natural selection
- The Hardy-Weinberg equation allows for the calculation of allele and genotype frequencies within populations
- It also allows for predictions to be made about how these frequencies will change in future generations
- If the allele frequencies in a population change over time, then it means that migration, mutation or natural selection has happened
Hardy-Weinberg calculations
- If the phenotype of a trait in a population is determined by a single gene with only two alleles (we will use B / b as examples throughout this section), then the population will consist of individuals with three possible genotypes:
- Homozygous dominant (BB)
- Heterozygous (Bb)
- Homozygous recessive (bb)
- When using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, the frequency of a genotype is represented as a proportion of the population
- For example, the BB genotype could be 0.40
- Whole population = 1
- The letter p represents the frequency of the dominant allele (B)
- The letter q represents the frequency of the recessive allele (b)
- As there are only two alleles at a single gene locus for this phenotypic trait in the population:
p + q = 1
- The chance of an individual being homozygous dominant is p2
- In this instance, the offspring would inherit dominant alleles from both parents ( p x p = p2 )
- The chance of an individual being heterozygous is 2pq
- Offspring could inherit a dominant allele from the father and a recessive allele from the mother ( p x q ) or offspring could inherit a dominant allele from the mother and a recessive allele from the father ( p x q ) = 2pq
- The chance of an individual being homozygous recessive is q2
- In this instance, the offspring would inherit recessive alleles from both parents ( q x q = q2 )
- As these are all the possible genotypes of individuals in the population, the following equation can be constructed:
p2 + q2 + 2pq = 1
Worked example
In a population of birds, 10% of the individuals exhibit the recessive phenotype of white feathers. Calculate the frequencies of all genotypes.
Solution:
-
- We will use F / f to represent dominant and recessive alleles for feather colour
- Those with the recessive phenotype must have the homozygous recessive genotype, ff
- Therefore q2 = 0.10 (as 10% of the individuals have the recessive phenotype and q2 represents this)
To calculate the frequencies of the homozygous dominant ( p2 ) and heterozygous ( 2pq ):
Step 1: Find q
Step 2: Find p (the frequency of the dominant allele F). If q = 0.32, and p + q = 1
p + q = 1
p = 1 - 0.32
p = 0.68
Step 3: Find p2 (the frequency of homozygous dominant genotype)
0.682 = 0.46
p2 = 0.46
Step 4: Find 2pq = 2 x (p) x (q)
2 x (0.68) x (0.32)
= 0.44
Step 5: Check calculations by substituting the values for the three frequencies into the equation; they should add up to 1
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
0.46 + 0.44 + 0.10 = 1
In summary:
-
- Allele frequencies:
- p = F = 0.68
- q = f = 0.32
- Genotype frequencies:
- p2 = FF = 0.46
- q2 = ff = 0.10
- 2pq = Ff = 0.44
- Allele frequencies:
Examiner Tip
When you are using Hardy-Weinberg equations, start your calculations by determining the proportion of individuals that display the recessive phenotype - you will always know the genotype for this: homozygous recessive. Remember that the dominant phenotype is seen in both homozygous dominant, and heterozygous individuals. Also, don’t mix up the Hardy-Weinberg equations with the Hardy-Weinberg principle. The equations are used to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies in a population. The principle suggests that there is an equilibrium between allele frequencies and there is no change in this between generations.