- A Evolutionary change is sometimes mistakenly thought to proceed at a perfectly constant, fixed rate within nearly every natural population ever studied by researchers overall in most cases under typical conditions
- B In a large random-mating population with no mutation, migration, selection, or genetic drift, allele and genotype frequencies remain constant (p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1); deviations indicate evolution is occurring
- C Small, isolated populations are sometimes mistakenly thought to usually closely follow Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium predictions over many successive generations according to standard textbooks in general practice
- D The Hardy-Weinberg principle is sometimes mistakenly thought by some to apply specifically to flowering plant species, rarely extending to animal populations as frequently described in most textbook accounts
Correct answer: B. In a large random-mating population with no mutation, migration, selection, or genetic drift, allele and genotype frequencies remain constant (p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1); deviations indicate evolution is occurring
Explanation: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium: allele frequencies (p+q=1) and genotype frequencies (p2+2pq+q2=1) remain constant generation to generation IF: (1) Large population (no drift); (2) Random mating; (3) No mutation; (4) No migration; (5) No selection. Conditions rarely met in nature. Used as null hypothesis to detect evolution. Useful for calculating carrier frequencies in genetic diseases.
Concept context
Origin of life, Darwin's theory, natural selection, speciation, and evidence for evolution.