Answer to Question #88172 in Evolution for Aaron

Question

If the relative frequency of the B allele decreased in the gene pool what would happen to the relative frequency of the other allele? Explain.

Answer 1

According to Hardy-Weinberg equation, p² + 2pq + q² = 1, where p is a frequency of the B allele, and q is a frequency of b allele. As the relative frequencies of the alleles in the population represent a percent or incidence of a certain gene variant in a population, the sum of the allele frequencies (B and b) equals 1: p + q = 1. As a result, if the relative frequency of allele B decreases, the relative frequency of allele b increases. In other words, the allele B is substituted by another allele (b) in a specific population.