In a population that is in HardyWeinberg equilibrium for two

In a population that is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for two alleles, D and d, 72% of the population shows the dominant trait. What is the frequency of the recessive allele, d?

A) 0.85

B) 0.28

C) 0.53

D) 0.18

Solution

B). 0.28

Hardy and Weinberg mathematically proved that in a population, all dominant and recessive alleles comprise all alleles for that gene.

This was mathematically represented as p+ q = 1.0

Where,

p = frequency of dominant alleles

q = frequency of recessive alleles.

Given that the frequency of dominant allele, D = 72% or 0.72

As the population is in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of d = 1-frequency of D

Thus, the frequency of d = 1-0.72 = 0.28