If p is the frequency of the W allele in a population, why do we equate the WW individuals with the p² portion of the Hardy-Weinberg equation?
A)The Hardy-Weinberg equation describes the frequencies of dominant alleles only.
B)The WW individuals have two copies of the allele represented by p.
C)The ww individuals are all killed by lethal recessive genes.
D)The frequency of p is always equal to the frequency of q.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Hardy-Weinberg equation describes the frequencies of alleles and genotypes in a population that is not evolving. In this equation, p represents the frequency of one allele (in this case, the W allele), and q represents the frequency of the other allele (in this case, the w allele). Since WW individuals have two copies of the W allele, their frequency is represented by p².

If P Is the Frequency of the W Allele in a Population