Hypothetical population - Essay Example

Even so, the genetic equilibrium idea forms a primary principle or rule of population genetics, which provides a baseline for determining genetic change. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium concept has a variety of names, which include HWP, Hardy-Weinberg law, or HWE. Despite the principle being applicable mostly in hypothetical cases, the equations of the principle can be used fundamentally to determine vital but hard-to- measure facts regarding a population. In a case where mating is by chance (random) in a huge population having no disruptive conditions, the principle forecasts that both allele and genotype frequencies will remain constant owing to the fact that they are in equilibrium (Nature Education).

Assuming that the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium assumptions are met the calculation for the following hypothetical population is determined. p2 in this equation will be equal to the part (fraction) of the population that is homozygous for p and q2 being equal to the fraction of the population that is homozygous for q while 2pq equals the fraction of the population that forms the heterozygotes. Using the information from the calculation to explain the occurrences in the hypothetical population, it is realized that the recessive gene in most cases is never lost from a given population irrespective of how tiny the gene is represented.

Therefore, gene ratios and gene frequencies in a randomly-breeding population usually remain constant from a single generation to another. Evolution comprises of changes within the population gene pool. However, in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium a population indicates no particular change. What the principle suggests is that populations can maintain a variability reservoir so that in case the future conditions need it, then the gene pool changes. In a case where the recessive alleles were disappearing continually, the population would become homozygous soon.

Thus, under the conditions of