Question

A population of aliens with similar genetics as humans is affected by a homozygous recessive condition known as "xbziq." This condition causes aliens to die at young ages because their digestive tracts are not able to effectively process food and obtain the necessary nutrients and energy from their diets. Approximately 2% of the newborn aliens have the xbziq condition. What is the carrier (heterozygote) frequency in the population?

Answer 1

Answer:

24%

Explanation:

The given genetic trait is homozygous recessive and the frequency of homozygous recessive genotypes in the population is 2%.

Therefore, frequency of homozygous recessive genotypes (q2) = 2% = 0.02

Frequency of homozygous recessive allele (q) = square root of 0.02 = 0.141

Since p+q =1 (here, p = frequency of dominant allele).

So, p= 1-q = 1-0.141 = 0.859

The frequency of heterozygous carrier genotypes in the population = 2pq = 2 x 0.141 x 0.859 = 0.24 or 24%