1. What is the Hardy-Weinberg Principle?

The Hardy-Weinberg principle states that allele and genotype frequencies in a population will remain constant from generation to generation in the absence of evolutionary influences (mutation, selection, genetic drift, etc.).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Hardy-Weinberg equations:

Where:

• \( p \) — Frequency of the dominant allele
• \( q \) — Frequency of the recessive allele
• \( p^2 \) — Frequency of homozygous dominant genotype
• \( 2pq \) — Frequency of heterozygous genotype
• \( q^2 \) — Frequency of homozygous recessive genotype

Explanation: The equations describe the relationship between allele frequencies and genotype frequencies in an ideal population at equilibrium.

3. Importance of Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium

Details: The principle provides a baseline to measure evolutionary change in populations and is fundamental to population genetics studies.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter allele frequencies p and q (must sum to 1). The calculator will compute expected genotype frequencies under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium?
A: No mutations, random mating, no natural selection, extremely large population size, and no gene flow.

Q2: How is this used in real-world genetics?
A: To estimate carrier frequencies for genetic diseases, test for evolutionary influences, and validate genotype data quality.

Q3: Can this be used for multiple alleles?
A: The basic principle applies but requires expansion (e.g., for three alleles: p + q + r = 1).

Q4: What does deviation from H-W equilibrium indicate?
A: May suggest inbreeding, population structure, selection, or genotyping errors.

Q5: How accurate is this for small populations?
A: Less accurate due to greater impact of genetic drift in small populations.