Question

imagine that ou are stduying a very large population of moths that is isolate d from gene flow.A single gene controls wing color.Half of the moths have white spotted wings (genotype WW or Ww) and half of the moths have plain brown wings (ww).There are no new mutations indivisuals mate randomly, and there is no natural selection on wing color.Explain , why any calculation, wether this population is under a hardy weinberg equilibrium

Answer 1

About the question:

I failed to find the complete question. However, I will explain why this population is considered to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and what the destiny of the alleles is.  

Answer:

This population is in equilibrium because it accomplishes all the H-W assumptions for a population in equilibrium. Genetic nor allelic frequencies will change generation after generation. Alleles will remain equal.

Explanation:

Available data:

• A single gene controls wing color
• Half of the moths have white-spotted wings
• half of the moths have plain brown wings
• W allele is dominant and expresses white wings
• w allele is recessive and expresses brown wings
• Individuals mate randomly
• No natural selection

We will know by theory if this population is or is not in equilibrium Hardy-Weinberg if the population is in concordance with the assumptions of the theory. So let us first analyze the Hardy-Weinberg assumptions for a population in equilibrium:

•  Random matings: Any individual get crossed with any other individual

•  No superposed generations: each individual can leave their gametes in the pool only once.

•  No mutations: No mutations originate any new gametes.

•  No migration: No incorporation of gametes from other populations.

•  Infinite population size: the probabilities of randomly taking an A gamete from the pool are p, and the probability of taking a B gamete is q.

•  No natural selection: Each individual has equal surviving and reproducing probabilities as any other, contributing proportionally to the gamete pool.

So, the exposed population

- is isolated, meaning that there is no gene flow from other populations. No new genes will be introduced.

- has no mutations, so no allele will change to express a new form

- individuals mate randomly

- there is no natural selection acting on this group as an evolutive force that might alter the equilibrium.

Genetic nor allelic frequencies will change generation after generation.

In a Hardy-Weinberg population, where allelic frequencies are p and q (assuming a diallelic gene), genotypic frequencies after one generation of random matings are p², 2pq and q². The allelic frequencies, as well as the genotypic frequencies, remain equal after successive generations. Alleles will remain in the population from many generations.