Hardy-Weinberg Principle - Unsolved Practice Set
Chapter: Evolution | Topic: Hardy Weinberg Principle
HARDY-WEINBERG PRINCIPLE - UNSOLVED PRACTICE SET
Topic: Hardy Weinberg Principle
Multiple Choice Questions
Q1. The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that, under certain ideal conditions, the allele and genotype frequencies in a population will:
- Constantly change every generation
- Remain constant from generation to generation (genetic equilibrium)
- Always increase over time
- Become zero eventually
Q2. The Hardy-Weinberg equation is generally written as:
- p + q = 1
- p² + 2pq + q² = 1
- p² − q² = 1
- 2p + 2q = 1
Q3. Which of the following is NOT one of the conditions required for a population to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
- Random mating
- No mutation
- Natural selection actively occurring
- No migration (gene flow)
Q4. If the frequency of a dominant allele in a population is represented as 'p', and the recessive allele as 'q', then p + q equals:
- 0
- 0.5
- 1
- 2
Q5. A deviation from the expected genotype frequencies predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg principle in a real population generally indicates that:
- The population is perfectly stable
- Evolutionary forces (such as selection, mutation, drift, or migration) are acting on the population
- No genetic variation exists
- The calculation method is always wrong
Short Answer Questions
Q6. State the Hardy-Weinberg principle in your own words.
Q7. Write the Hardy-Weinberg equation, and briefly explain what each term (p², 2pq, q²) represents.
Q8. List any three conditions necessary for a population to remain in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
Q9. Why is a deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium considered evidence that evolution is occurring in a population?
Long Answer Questions
Q10. Explain the Hardy-Weinberg principle in detail, describing the mathematical relationship between allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in an idealised population.
Q11. Discuss the significance of the Hardy-Weinberg principle as a tool for detecting evolutionary change in real populations, explaining what factors can disturb this equilibrium.
APPLICATION / ANALYSIS
Q12. In a population of 1,000 individuals, the frequency of the recessive allele (q) for a particular trait is found to be 0.2. Using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, calculate the expected frequency of the dominant allele (p), and the expected proportion of homozygous dominant individuals (p²) in this population.
Q13. A wildlife biologist studies a population of butterflies over several generations and finds that the observed genotype frequencies significantly differ from those predicted by the Hardy-Weinberg equation, with no evidence of mutation or migration. Suggest what evolutionary force might be responsible for this deviation, and explain your reasoning.