Table of contents
- 1. Introduction to Genetics51m
- 2. Mendel's Laws of Inheritance3h 37m
- 3. Extensions to Mendelian Inheritance2h 41m
- 4. Genetic Mapping and Linkage2h 28m
- 5. Genetics of Bacteria and Viruses1h 21m
- 6. Chromosomal Variation1h 48m
- 7. DNA and Chromosome Structure56m
- 8. DNA Replication1h 10m
- 9. Mitosis and Meiosis1h 34m
- 10. Transcription1h 0m
- 11. Translation58m
- 12. Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes1h 19m
- 13. Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes44m
- 14. Genetic Control of Development44m
- 15. Genomes and Genomics1h 50m
- 16. Transposable Elements47m
- 17. Mutation, Repair, and Recombination1h 6m
- 18. Molecular Genetic Tools19m
- 19. Cancer Genetics29m
- 20. Quantitative Genetics1h 26m
- 21. Population Genetics50m
- 22. Evolutionary Genetics29m
21. Population Genetics
Hardy Weinberg
Problem 18
Textbook Question
In a population of rabbits, f(C₁) = 0.70 and f(C₂) = 0.30. The alleles exhibit an incomplete dominance relationship in which C₁C₁ produces black rabbits, C₁C₂ produces tan-colored rabbits, and C₂C₂ produces rabbits with white fur. If the assumptions of the Hardy–Weinberg principle apply to the rabbit population, what are the expected frequencies of black, tan, and white rabbits?

1
Step 1: Recall the Hardy-Weinberg principle, which states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences. The equation for genotype frequencies is p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p and q are the frequencies of two alleles in the population.
Step 2: Identify the allele frequencies given in the problem. Here, f(C₁) = 0.70 (p) and f(C₂) = 0.30 (q). These represent the frequencies of the two alleles in the population.
Step 3: Calculate the expected frequency of the homozygous genotype C₁C₁ (black rabbits) using the formula p². This is done by squaring the frequency of the C₁ allele: p² = (0.70)².
Step 4: Calculate the expected frequency of the heterozygous genotype C₁C₂ (tan-colored rabbits) using the formula 2pq. This is done by multiplying 2 by the frequency of C₁ (p) and the frequency of C₂ (q): 2pq = 2 × 0.70 × 0.30.
Step 5: Calculate the expected frequency of the homozygous genotype C₂C₂ (white rabbits) using the formula q². This is done by squaring the frequency of the C₂ allele: q² = (0.30)².

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Hardy-Weinberg Principle
The Hardy-Weinberg principle provides a mathematical model for understanding genetic variation in a population at equilibrium. It states that allele and genotype frequencies will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences. This principle assumes no mutation, migration, selection, or genetic drift, allowing for the prediction of expected genotype frequencies based on allele frequencies.
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Incomplete Dominance
Incomplete dominance is a genetic scenario where neither allele is completely dominant over the other, resulting in a phenotype that is a blend of both. In the case of the rabbit population, the heterozygous genotype (C₁C₂) produces a distinct tan color, while homozygous genotypes produce black (C₁C₁) and white (C₂C₂) rabbits. This concept is crucial for understanding how different allele combinations affect phenotypic expression.
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Genotype Frequencies
Genotype frequencies refer to the proportion of different genotypes within a population. In the context of the Hardy-Weinberg principle, these frequencies can be calculated using the allele frequencies. For the rabbit population, the expected frequencies of black, tan, and white rabbits can be derived from the allele frequencies (f(C₁) and f(C₂)) and the genotypic ratios that result from incomplete dominance.
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Textbook Question
Biologists have proposed that the use of antibiotics to treat human infectious disease has played a role in the evolution of widespread antibiotic resistance in several bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus and the bacteria causing gonorrhea, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. Explain how the evolutionary mechanisms mutation and natural selection may have contributed to the development of antibiotic resistance.
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