Questions on Hardy-Weinberg Principle
Multiple-Choice Questions: Hardy-Weinberg Principle
1. What does the Hardy-Weinberg principle describe?
A) The way populations always evolve
B) Conditions under which allele frequencies remain constant in a population
C) How mutations affect populations
D) How natural selection changes genotypes
E) The rate of speciation
2. Which of the following is NOT a condition required for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) No mutation
B) Large population size
C) Random mating
D) Natural selection
E) No migration
3. In the Hardy-Weinberg equation p2+2pq+q2=1p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1p2+2pq+q2=1, what does p2p^2p2 represent?
A) Frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
B) Frequency of heterozygous genotype
C) Frequency of homozygous recessive genotype
D) Frequency of allele ppp
E) Frequency of allele qqq
4. In the Hardy-Weinberg equation, what does 2pq2pq2pq represent?
A) Frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
B) Frequency of homozygous recessive genotype
C) Frequency of heterozygous genotype
D) Total allele frequency
E) Mutation rate
5. What do ppp and qqq represent in the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
A) Genotype frequencies
B) Population sizes
C) Allele frequencies of dominant and recessive alleles
D) Rates of mutation and migration
E) Phenotype ratios
6. Which of the following best describes a population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Undergoing rapid evolution
B) Exhibiting constant allele and genotype frequencies over generations
C) Experiencing gene flow
D) Experiencing natural selection
E) Undergoing genetic drift
7. If the frequency of the recessive allele qqq is 0.4, what is the frequency of the dominant allele ppp?
A) 0.6
B) 0.4
C) 0.16
D) 0.8
E) 0.2
8. In a population, the frequency of homozygous recessive individuals is 0.09. What is the value of qqq?
A) 0.81
B) 0.09
C) 0.3
D) 0.6
E) 0.7
9. If p=0.7p = 0.7p=0.7 and q=0.3q = 0.3q=0.3, what is the expected frequency of heterozygous individuals?
A) 0.49
B) 0.42
C) 0.21
D) 0.09
E) 0.7
10. Which of the following would cause a population to deviate from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Large population size
B) No mutation
C) Natural selection favoring certain genotypes
D) Random mating
E) No migration
11. Why is a large population size important in maintaining Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Prevents mutations
B) Prevents random changes in allele frequencies due to genetic drift
C) Causes gene flow
D) Increases natural selection
E) Encourages inbreeding
12. What happens to allele frequencies if mutation occurs?
A) They remain constant
B) They can change, introducing new alleles into the gene pool
C) Mutation has no effect on evolution
D) Mutation always reduces genetic variation
E) Mutation eliminates recessive alleles
13. Which factor does NOT disrupt Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Mutation
B) Migration
C) Genetic drift
D) Random mating
E) Natural selection
14. What assumption about mating is made in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Only dominant individuals mate
B) Individuals choose mates randomly
C) Mating occurs only between homozygotes
D) Mating happens only in small populations
E) Only recessive individuals mate
15. Which of these is NOT an implication of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) Allele frequencies remain stable
B) Genotype frequencies can be predicted from allele frequencies
C) Evolution is occurring rapidly
D) No evolutionary forces act on the population
E) Random mating occurs
16. How can scientists use the Hardy-Weinberg principle?
A) To measure mutation rates directly
B) To estimate allele frequencies and detect evolutionary changes in populations
C) To force populations into equilibrium
D) To prevent natural selection
E) To identify species
17. If p=0.8p = 0.8p=0.8, what is the expected frequency of homozygous dominant individuals?
A) 0.64
B) 0.16
C) 0.32
D) 0.04
E) 0.8
18. What does it mean if a population does not fit Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A) The population is evolving
B) The population is stable
C) The population is very large
D) Random mating is occurring
E) No mutations are present
19. Which equation represents the total allele frequency in a population?
A) p2+2pq+q2=1p^2 + 2pq + q^2 = 1p2+2pq+q2=1
B) p+q=1p + q = 1p+q=1
C) p2=q2p^2 = q^2p2=q2
D) 2pq=12pq = 12pq=1
E) p2+q2=1p^2 + q^2 = 1p2+q2=1
20. What would happen to genotype frequencies after several generations if all Hardy-Weinberg conditions are met?
A) Genotype frequencies would fluctuate randomly
B) Genotype frequencies would remain constant
C) Dominant alleles would disappear
D) Recessive alleles would increase sharply
E) Mutation would increase genotype diversity
Answer Key with Detailed Explanations
1. B – Hardy-Weinberg describes conditions where allele frequencies remain unchanged over time (no evolution).
2. D – Natural selection causes allele frequencies to change, so it is not a condition for equilibrium.
3. A – p2p^2p2 is the frequency of homozygous dominant genotype.
4. C – 2pq2pq2pq represents the frequency of heterozygous genotype.
5. C – ppp and qqq are the allele frequencies of dominant and recessive alleles, respectively.
6. B – Equilibrium means allele and genotype frequencies stay constant across generations.
7. A – Since p+q=1p + q = 1p+q=1, if q=0.4q = 0.4q=0.4, then p=0.6p = 0.6p=0.6.
8. C – q2=0.09q^2 = 0.09q2=0.09 means q=0.09=0.3q = \sqrt{0.09} = 0.3q=0.09=0.3.
9. B – 2pq=2×0.7×0.3=0.422pq = 2 \times 0.7 \times 0.3 = 0.422pq=2×0.7×0.3=0.42.
10. C – Natural selection changes allele frequencies, causing deviation from equilibrium.
11. B – Large populations reduce the effect of random genetic drift.
12. B – Mutation introduces new alleles, changing allele frequencies.
13. D – Random mating is a requirement, not a disruptor, of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
14. B – Hardy-Weinberg assumes random mating within the population.
15. C – Rapid evolution contradicts Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which implies no evolution.
16. B – The principle helps estimate allele frequencies and detect when populations evolve.
17. A – p2=(0.8)2=0.64p^2 = (0.8)^2 = 0.64p2=(0.8)2=0.64.
18. A – Deviations indicate that evolution is occurring in the population.
19. B – p+q=1p + q = 1p+q=1 represents total allele frequencies in the population.
20. B – Without evolutionary forces, genotype frequencies remain constant.
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