Biology Forum Genetics Need help to understand this harvey weinburg problem!!

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    • #7739
      hotmama
      Participant

      A very large population of lab mice contains 35% white mice. White coloring is caused by the double recessive genotype "aa". Calculate allelic and genotypic frequencies for this population.
      a.Homozygous dom genotype:
      b.Homezygous recces genotype:
      c.Heterozygous genotype:
      d.Dominant allele frequency:
      e.Recessive allele frequency:

      Is there an easy way to calculate this problem? I have tried and am not sure if I am correct…..this is very confusing!!!
      Please help!!

      Here is my calculation:

      aa~ .59 (q2)
      A ~ 1.0 (p)
      AA~ .17 (p2)
      Aa~.48 (2pq)

    • #73301
      Darby
      Participant

      The first 2 you’ve pretty much been given. From there it’s a matter of calculating how much of the population needs to carry the recessives for it to show up to the extent given.

    • #73305
      hotmama
      Participant

      Can you help me get to that point? Thanks!!

    • #73308
      blcr11
      Participant

      Got the right idea, but I think you’ve misidentified one of the frequencies. You’re given the frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype, aa. But Pr[aa]=q2=0.35 (not 0.59).

      Pr[aa]=0.35 (given)
      Pr[a]=q=sqrt(.35)=0.59
      Pr[A]=p=1-q=1-0.59=0.41
      Pr[AA]=p2=(0.41)(0.41)=0.17
      Pr[Aa]=2pq=2(.59)(.41)=0.48

      Check p2 + 2pq + q2 = 1 = 0.35 + 0.48 + 0.17

      Frequency of:

      Homozygous dominant genotype (AA): p2=0.17
      Homozygous recessive genotype (aa): q2=0.35
      Heterozygous genotype (Aa): 2pq=0.48
      Dominant allele (A): p=0.41
      Recessive allele (a): q=0.59

      I think you were OK except for confusing Pr[aa] with Pr[a].

    • #73309
      hotmama
      Participant

      Thank you so much! I see where I made the mistake. 😀

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