Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Allele Frequency Calculations
Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium gives population geneticists a mathematical baseline to detect evolutionary change. Mastering the two equations — p + q = 1 and p² + 2pq + q² = 1 — is essential for AP Biology Unit 8 (Ecology) and accounts for multiple AP exam questions annually. These cards build fluency in identifying allele frequencies, spotting when equilibrium is violated, and interpreting what each term represents.
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5 CardsWhat does the 2pq term represent in the H-W equation?
What does a violation of H-W equilibrium indicate about a population?
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How do I calculate heterozygous carrier frequency using Hardy-Weinberg?
Find q = √(q²) from the recessive phenotype frequency, then p = 1 − q. The carrier frequency is 2pq. Example: if q² = 0.01, then q = 0.10, p = 0.90, and 2pq = 0.18 (18% are carriers).
What is the difference between allele frequency and genotype frequency?
Allele frequency is the proportion of a specific allele (p or q) in the gene pool — a single-locus measure. Genotype frequency (p², 2pq, q²) describes the proportion of individuals with a specific allele combination.
Why is a large population required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
Small populations are subject to genetic drift — random allele frequency changes due to chance sampling. Drift can shift allele frequencies significantly from generation to generation, violating H-W equilibrium even without selection or mutation.