In wild petunias the allele for red flower color R is domina

In wild petunias, the allele for red flower color (R) is dominant over the allele for white flower color (r). We sample a population and find 430 plants have white flowers and 170 have red flowers. If the population is in HWE, what are the allele frequencies of R and r in this population? How many of the 170 plants that have red flowers are heterozygous at the flower color locus?

Solution

Given that the allele for red flower color (R) is dominant over the allele for white flower color (r).

The ratio of population of white flowers is, rr = 430/600 = 0.716

Thus, the frequency of \"r\" or the recessive allele is = 0.856

The ratio of population of red flowers is = 170/600

As the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of R is = 1- 0.856 = 0.144

The frequency of heterozygous flowers is = 2 Rr = 2*0.144*0.856 = 0.246

The number of heterozygotes in the population is = 0.246*600 = 147.6 or 148.