In a small population of birds the following genotype counts

In a small population of birds, the following genotype counts are observed for the microsatellite locus M. (Allele names refer to the number of repeats in the microsatellite region. Note that there is no dominant or recessive allele, so just assign p as the frequency of one and q as the frequency of the other):

#individuals         genotypes

100                           M₁₃ M₁₃

180                           M₁₃ M₁₇

220                           M₁₇ M₁₇

Is this population in HWE?

*University of Washington

Problem II. In a small population of birds, the following genotype counts are observed for the microsatellite locus M. (Allele names refer to the number of repeats in the microsatellite region. Note that there is no dominant or recessive allele, so just assign p as the frequency of one and q as the frequency of the other): #individuals genotypes M13 M13 100 M13 17 180 17 M17 220 Is this population in HwE?

Solution

As per the given data,

The frequency of M₁₃ M₁₃ (p²) in the population is = 100/500 = 0.2

The frequency of M₁₃ M₁₇ (2pq) in the population is = 180/500 = 0.36

The frequency of M₁₇ M₁₇ (q²) in the population is = 220/500 = 0.44

ALLELE FREQUENCIES:

Freq of M₁₃ = frequency of p = p² + 1/2 (2pq) = 0.2 + 1/2 (0.36) = 0.2 + 0.18 = 0.38

Freq of M₁₇ = frequency of q = q² + 1/2 (2pq) = 0.44 + ½ (0.36) = 0.44 + 0.18 = 0.62

The frequency of p + q = 0.38 + 0.62 = 1

Thus, the population is in H-W equilibrium.