BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

Population Genetics
S1

S2

S3

A farmer has 2000 goats. 1500 of the goats are brown coated and the rest is white coated. Allele A
for the brown coat is dominant, while allele a for the white coat is recessive.
Assume that the population of goats are at genetic equilibrium and breeds randomly.
(a)

Calculate the dominant allele and recessive allele frequency of the population.

[2m]

(b)

Calculate the genotype frequency in the F1 generation if the cows are left to breed randomly and
sexually.
[3m]

(c)

If the farmer adds another 1000 homozygous dominant brown goats into the population,
calculate the new dominant and recessive allele frequency.

[5m]

Resistance against a poison in a population of bats is controlled by the dominant allele D. 84% of the
population in a test area is found to be resistant against the poison.
(a)

What is the allele frequency for the dominant and recessive allele in the population if the
population of bats are at genetic equilibrium?
[3m]

(b)

Calculate the expected number of bats with genotype DD, Dd and dd in a population of 500 bats
in the test area.
[4m]

(c)

If all the bats in the population of 500 bats that does not have resistance against the poison are
killed, what is the frequency for bats without resistance that are born in the next generation if
the remaining bats in this generation breed randomly and sexually?
[3m]

In a population of rats, 36% have a brown coat. The yellow coat is controlled by the dominant allele K
and the brown coat is controlled by the recessive allele k.
(a)

Calculate the frequency of the dominant and recessive alleles.

[5m]

(b)

The gene for the yellow coat in rats is a lethal gene. What is meant by lethal gene?

[2m]

(c)

What happens to allele frequency for the brown and yellow coat in rats in the generation if the
parental generation is at genetic equilibrium, breeds sexually and randomly? Explain your
answer.
[3m]
(STPM 2001

P2)

S4

(a)

Explain what is meant by gene pool, allele frequency and genotype frequency.

[6m]

(b)

By using an example, show how genotype frequency in the F1 generation that is produced from
a population at genetic equilibrium can be determined.
[9m]
(Clone STPM 1991 P1 07)

S5

(a)

State the Hardy-Weinberg Law.

[1m]
In a type of plant, the red coloured flower is controlled by
the dominant allele (R), while the recessive allele (r)
controls the white flower. A farmer bought 1000 plants
from a randomly reproducing population. Of the 1000
plants, only 40 plants produced white flowers, while
the rest produced red flowers.

Genotype
RR
Rr
rr

Frequency
980
840
180

(i) What is meant by randomly reproducing population? State the importance of a randomly
reproducing population.
[3m]
(ii)What are the requirements for a population to be at genetic equilibrium?

[4m]

(iii) Calculate the dominant and recessive allele frequency in population of 1000 plants.

[5m]

(iv) Calculate how many of the red flowered plants are heterozygote.

[2m]
Clone STPM 1997

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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

S6

A population of diploid organisms consist of 2000 individuals. The table below shows the genotypes
in the population.
(a)

By using the Hardy-Weinberg equation, show that the allele frequency and genotype frequency
in the F1 generation is constant.
[9 m]

(b)

State and explain three factors that can change the constant values of allele and genotype
frequency in the F1 generation.
[6 m]
Clone STPM 1990

7 (a)

What does the HardyWeinberg principle predict?

[3m]

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The table shows the frequencies of some alleles in the population of cats in three cities.

(b)

White cats are deaf. Would the HardyWeinberg principle hold true for white cats?
Explain your answer.

[2m]

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(c)

What is the evidence from the table that non-agouti and blotched are alleles of different genes?
[1m]
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(d)

Hair length in cats is determined by a single gene with two alleles. The allele for long hair (h) is
recessive. The allele for short hair (H) is dominant.
Use the information in the table and the HardyWeinberg equation to estimate the percentage of
cats in London that are heterozygous for hair length. Show your working.
[2m]

8 Huntingtons disease is a human inherited condition resulting in gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the
brain. It is caused by a dominant allele but usually no symptoms are evident until the person is at least 30
years old. It is very rare in most populations. However, in one isolated area in Venezuela, 48% of the
population possess a genotype which gives rise to Huntingtons disease. Many of the inhabitants of this
area can trace their origins back to a common ancestor 200 years ago.
(a)

Use the Hardy-Weinberg equation to estimate the percentage of this Venezuelan population which
is heterozygous for Huntingtons disease. Show your working.

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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

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(b) Suggest why

(i) there is such a high incidence of Huntingtons disease in this
population;
[3m]

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(ii) Huntingtons disease has not been eliminated from this population by
natural selection.
[3m]

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AQA June 2002

6 (a)

(q2 = 0.52 / q = 0.72)

(p = 1 0.72 = 0.28)
p + q = 1 / p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 ;
Answer = 2pq / use of appropriate numbers;
Answer = 40%; 3

(b) (i) Any three from: (MARK AS A WHOLE)

Small founder population / common ancestor;
Genetic isolation / small gene pool / no immigration /
no migration / in-breeding;
High probability of mating with person having H-allele;
(ii)Reproduction occurs before symptoms of disease are apparent;
Genetic argument Hh x hh _ 50% / Hh x Hh _ 75% affected offspring;
No survival / selective disadvantage; 3 max
Ignore survival of the fittest

Answers
S1 (a)According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, q2 is the frequency of homozygous recessive
genotype and q is recessive allele frequency.
(20001500)
So, q2 = --------------------- , q=0.5
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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

2000
According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
p-q =1, so, p = 1-q = 1- 0.5 = 0.5
(b)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,

p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, in which, p2 = frequency of homozygote dominant genotype = (0.5)2 = 0.25
2pq = heterozygous genotype frequency = 2(0.5)(0.5) = 0.5
q2 = frequency of homozygote recessive genotype = (0.5)2 = 0.25 (c)
The number of goats with the following genotypes in the population:
Homozygous dominant = 0.25 x 2000 = 500
Heterozygous = 0. 5 x 2000 1000
Homozygous recessive 0.25 x 2000 = 500
With the addition of 1000 homozygous dominant goats, the total homozygous dominant goats is
1500.
Genotype
Number of organisms
Number of A allele
Number of a allele
Total allele

AA
1500
2 x 1500 =3000

3000
4000
Dominant allele frequency, p = ---------- = 0.67
6000

Aa
1000
x 2 x 1000 = 1000
x 2 x 1000 = 1000
2000

aa
500

2 x 500 = 1000
1000

Total allele

4000
2000
6000

2000
Recessive allele frequency, q = ------------- = 0.33
6000
S2 (a)

(b)

(c)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, q2 is the frequency of homozygous recessive

genotype and q is recessive allele frequency.
(84)
Number of bats without resistance to poison = 1 - ---- = 0.16
100
So, q2 = 0.16, q = 0.4
According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
P + q =1, so, p= 1q= 1-0.4=0.6
According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1, where,
p2 = homozygote dominant genotype (DD) frequency = (0.6)2 = 0.36
2pq = heterozygous genotype (Dd) frequency = 2(0.6)(0.4) = 0.48
q2 = homozygote recessive genotype (dd) frequency = (0.4)2 = 0.16
Number of homozygote dominant genotype (DD) bats = 0.36 x 500 = 180 bats
Number of heterozygote genotype (Dd) bats = 0.48 x 500 = 240 bats
Genotype
Number of organism
Number of allele
Number of allele
Total allele

DD
180
2x180=360

Dd
240
x 2 x 240 =240
x 2 x 240 =240
480

360

dd
All dead

--

Total allele

600
240
840

Number of homozygote recessive genotype (dd) bats = 0.16 x 500 = 80 bats

600
Dominant allele (D) frequency, p = ----- = 0.7 14
840
240
Recessive allele (d) frequency, q = ----- = 0.286
840
Frequency of bats without resistance in next generation = q 2 = (0.286)2 = 0.082
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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

S3 (a)

S4

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,

p2+2pq+q2=1 and p + q=1,where,
p = dominant allele (K) frequency,
q = recessive allele (k) frequency,
p2 = homozygote dominant (KK) genotype frequency,
2pq = heterozygous genotype (Kk) frequency,
q2 homozygote recessive (kk) genotype frequency.
So, q2 = 0.36, q = 0.6
According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,
p + q=1, so, p =1-q=1 -0.6=0.4

(b)

The lethal gene is a genotype that results in the death of the organism. In rats, the homozygous
dominant genotype KK for yellow coat is a lethal gene as it causes the death of the rat.

(c)

The allele frequency for the brown and yellow coat alleles in the F 1 generation will change.
The death of rats with the lethal gene (KK) causes gene to flow out of the population.
The F, generation formed is not at genetic equilibrium, so the Hardy-Weinberg equation cannot be
used for the population produced.
(a) Gene pool consists of all the alleles at all the gene loci in all the individuals of a population
that breeds sexually.
Allele frequency is the ratio between the total number of an allele in a population to the
total number of alleles in all the gene loci in a population.
Allele frequency = total number of an allele in population total number of alleles in population
Genotype frequency is the ratio between the total number of organisms with a certain genotype
to the total number of organisms in a population.
Genotype frequency = total number of organisms with certain genotype
total number of organisms
A natural population consists of 10000 individuals. A selected trait is controlled by two alleles,
dominant allele (A) and recessive allele (a). Out of the 10 000 individuals, 6000 have genotype
AA,
2000 have genotype Aa and 2000 have genotype aa.
Gene pool = 2 (6000) + 2 (2000) + 2 (2000) = 20 000 alleles
2(6000) + (2 x 2000)
Frequency of dominant allele (A) =
-------------------------------2(6000) + 2(2000) + 2(2000)
= 14000
20000
= 0.7
(2 x 2000) + 2(2000)
Frequency of recessive allele (a) = ---------------------------------2(6000) + 2(2000) + 2(2000)
= 6000
20000
= 0.3
Genotype frequency of AA = 6000 = 0.6
10 000
Genotype frequency of Aa = 2000 = 0.2
10 000
Genotype frequency of aa = 2000 = 0.2
10 000

(b)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, p + q = 1, p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1

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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

p = dominant allele frequency

q = recessive allele frequency
p2 = homozygous dominant genotype frequency
q2 = homozygous recessive genotype frequency
2pq = heterozygous genotype frequency
In a population at genetic equilibrium, a trait is controlled by dominant allele (B) and recessive
allele(b). In a population of 10000 organisms, 1600 organisms have genotype bb.
1600
So, q2 = --------- = 0.16
10000
q = 0.4
p+q = 1
p = 1-0.4=0.6
If this population is left to reproduce randomly and sexually, the genotype frequency in the F 1
generation produced are:
Homozygous dominant (BB) genotype frequency =p2 = (0.6)2 = 0.36
Homozygous recessive (bb) genotype frequency = q2 = (0.4)2 = 0.16
Heterozygous (Bb) genotype frequency = 2pq = 2(0.4)(0.6) = 0.48
For the population to be at genetic equilibrium,
population size is large
selection does not occur and mating between the organisms in the population is random
migration, emigration and immigration does not occur
genetic drift does not occur
no mutation occurs
S5

S6

(a)

The Hardy-Weinberg law states that allele frequency and genotype frequency of a population at
genetic equilibrium remains constant from generation to generation.

(i)

Randomly breeding population means that each organism in the population has an equal chance
to mate and reproduce with another organism in the same population.
Selection does not occur; each genotype is equally likely to pass genes to the offspring.
If breeding is not random (selection occurs), the frequency of selected alleles will increase in
subsequent generations.

(ii)

Population size is large.

Mating between organisms in the population is random.
Genetic drift does not occur.
Mutation does not occur.
Migration (emigration and immigration) does not occur. Gene flow into or out of the
population does not occur.

(iii)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,

p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1
q2 is the frequency of homozygous recessive genotype and q is the recessive allele (r) frequency.
40
Frequency of white flower plants in the population = = 0.04
1000
So, q2 = 0.04, q = 0.2 According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, p + q =1, p = dominant allele
(R) frequency so, p = 1q = 10.2 = 0.8

(iv)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation, 2pq = heterozygote genotype frequency, Number of

heterozygote red flower plants = 2(0.8)(0.2) x 1000 = 320 plants.

(a)

According to the Hardy-Weinberg equation,

p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 and p + q = 1, where,
p = dominant allele frequency,
q = recessive allele frequency,
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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA
2

p = homozygote dominant genotype frequency,

2pq = heterozygous genotype frequency,
q2 = homozygote recessive genotype frequency.
For the given population,
2800
Dominant allele (R) frequency, p = ----- = 0.7
4000
1200
Recessive allele (r) frequency = q = ---------4000

= 0.3

9 80
Homozygote dominant genotype frequency = ---- = 0.49
2000
840
Heterozygous genotype frequency = ----- = 0.42
2000
180
Homozygote recessive genotype frequency = --------- = 0.09
2000
If the population breeds sexually and randomly and produces 1000 organisms in the F 1 generation, the
number of organisms with specific genotype are as shown follows:
Homozygous dominant (RR) = p2 x 1000 = (0.7)2 x 1000 = 490
Heterozygous (Rr) = 2pq x 1000 = 2(0.7)(0.3) x 1000 = 420
Homozygous recessive (rr) = q2 x 1000 = (0.3)2 x 1000 = 90

1400
Dominant allele (R) frequency, p = ---------- = 0.7
2000
Recessive allele (r) frequency, q = = 0.3
2000
490
Homozygote dominant genotype frequency = = 0.49
420
Heterozygous genotype frequency = ---- = 0.42
1000

Genotype
Number of organisms
Number of R allele
Number of r allele

RR
980
2 x 980 =1960
0

Rr
840
0.5x 2 x 840 =840

rr
180

Total allele

2800

0.5x 2 x 840 =840

2 x 180

1200

=360
Total allele
1960
1680
360
4000
Homozygote recessive genotype frequency = ~ = 0.09
Thus, the allele frequency and genotype frequency in the parental and F 1 generations are constant.
(b) (i) Population is small.
In a small population, the death of a small number of organisms caii
cause large changes to the allele frequency and genotype frequency of the population.
In a large population, the same amount of deaths cause little effect to the allele frequency and
genotype frequency of the population.
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BioF63TC17-Population genetics-QA

(ii)

(iii)
(iv)
(v)

7 (a)

(b)

(c)
(d)

In a small population, the effect of genetic drift (bottleneck effect or founders effect) is greater
compared to a bigger population.
Mating is non-random.
Selection occurs in the population.
Allele frequency of the allele that produces phenotype that increases survival and reproductive
chances increases in subsequent generations.
Migration into or out of the population, emigration or immigration occurs. Gene flow occurs resulting
in changes in the allele frequency and genotype frequency.
Genetic drift occurs. Population size is drastically reduced by random events such as natural disaster.
The remaining population has different allele frequency and genotype frequency from the original
population.
Mutation occurs. Mutation causes production of new alleles or new genotype in a population. This
causes changes in the allele frequency or genotype frequency.
(Any three)
Genotype RR
Rr
rr
Total
allele
Number of organisms 490
420
90

Number of R alleles 2x490=980

1x2x420

1400
Number of r allele =420
x 2 x 420
2 x 90 600
=420
=980
Total allele 980
840
180
2000
The frequency/proportion of alleles (of a particular gene);
Will stay constant from one generation to the next/over generations / no genetic change over
time;
Providing no mutation/no selection/population large/population genetically isolated/mating at
random/no migration;
The three principles for marking are:
What feature
What happens to it
Providing . . .
Accept: genotype/explanation of genotype
Accept: alternative wording, e.g. there is no gene flow/genetic drift for genetically isolated.
White/deaf cats unlikely to survive/selected against;
Will not pass on allele (for deafness/white fur) (to next generation)/will reduce frequency of allele;
Accept: alternative wording, e.g. have a disadvantageous phenotype
Neutral: will not breed
In Paris/London frequencies (of these alleles) add up to more than 1;
Can be shown by correct figures to be more than 1 e.g. 0.71 + 0.78 = 1.49
Accept: more than100%
Two marks for correct answer of 44(.22);;
One mark for incorrect answer in which p/frequency of H determined as 0.67 and q/frequency of h
as 0.33
OR
Answer given as 0.44(22);

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