10.1.6 Hardy-Weinberg: What Does This Have to Do with Evolution?

Question 1

The five criteria for maintaining Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in a population are

Answer 1

1. large population size
2. no gene flow in or out of the population
3. no mutation
4. random mating
5. no natural selection

Question 2

note

Answer 2

• The values calculated from the Hardy-Weinberg equation provide a base line for tracking the genetic structure of a population.
• When any of the five criteria are not met, microevolution occurs, and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is no longer in effect.
• The Hardy-Weinberg equation provides a base line for
  tracking the genetic structure of a population. The equation is based upon the assumption that gene frequencies will remain constant from generation to generation.
• By being able to pinpoint factors that will change gene
  frequencies, we can make predictions about the causes of evolution.
• The illustration on the left lists the five criteria for maintaining Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
• When any of the five criteria are not met, microevolution occurs, and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium is no longer in effect.

Question 3

Microevolution

Answer 3

• a change in gene frequency in a population

that occurs over a relatively short period of time—no more than a few generations

Question 4

True or false?
Migration from a distant population with the same gene frequencies will violate the assumptions of Hardy–Weinberg for a study population.

Answer 4

• false

Question 5

Microevolution

Answer 5

• is the change in the gene pool of a population.

Question 6

According to the Hardy–Weinberg theory, if a very large population experiences no migration and has random mating, no natural selection, and no mutation then

Answer 6

• the makeup of the population’s gene pool will remain virtually the same.

Question 7

Which of the following may disrupt Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

Answer 7

• nonrandom mating

Question 8

Large populations are less likely to undergo genetic drift because they have a higher amount of variation between individuals than small populations.

Answer 8

• true

Question 9

The Hardy–Weinberg equation works to predict genotypes in a population only if what remains constant?

Answer 9

• gene frequency

Question 10

Which of the following situations does not violate Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium?

Answer 10

• large populations