Maharashtra BoardEnglish MediumSTD 12 ScienceBIOLOGYEvolution3 Marks
Question
Name and explain the principle, the given equation represents: $p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1.$
✓
Answer
i. The given equation represents Hardy-Weinberg (genetic) equilibrium.
ii. This principle stated that allele frequences in a population are stable and remain constant from generation to generation, i.e., the gene pool remains a constant; this is called genetic equilibrium.
iii. The sum total of all the allele frequencies is one.
iv. Individual frequencies are named as p and q, which represent the frequencies of alleles A and a respectively, in a population of diploid organisms.
v. The frequency of AA individuals is $p^2$, while that of aa is $q^2$ and $A a$ is $2 p q$; hence $p^2+2 p g+q^2=1$, which is the binomial expansion of $(p+q)^2$.
vi. Any deviation in the frequency of alleles represents an evolutionary change.
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