Suppose that in a randomly mating population of mammals, 160 of its 1,000 members exhibit a specific recessive trait that does not affect viability of the individual. How many individuals in this population are heterozygous carriers of the gene that causes this trait?

Question

David Davis

Social Studies

11 August, 08:23

Suppose that in a randomly mating population of mammals, 160 of its 1,000 members exhibit a specific recessive trait that does not affect viability of the individual. How many individuals in this population are heterozygous carriers of the gene that causes this trait?

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Answers (1)

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Giada · Answer 1

480

Explanation:

To calculate the gene frequency, q, of the recessive trait we will take the square root of 16/100. The square root of 16/100 will be. 4.

The frequency, p, will be 1 - 0.4. Hence, p will be 0.6.

Now,

According to the Hardy-Weinberg law, the frequency of the carriers can be calculated by

2pq

2 x 0.4 x 0.6

0.48

0.48 means that 48% or 480 out of 1000 individuals in this population are heterozygous carriers of the gene that causes this trait.