The Hardy-Weinberg principle is a foundational concept in population genetics that provides a mathematical model to study the genetic variation of a population under ideal conditions. This calculator allows you to input allele frequencies or genotype frequencies to determine the equilibrium state of a population. Understanding these calculations helps in analyzing the genetic structure of populations and predicting allele distribution over generations.
Hardy-Weinberg Equation
The Hardy-Weinberg equation is used to calculate the genetic variation of a population at equilibrium. The equation is expressed as:
p² + 2pq + q² = 1
Variables:
- p is the frequency of the dominant allele
- q is the frequency of the recessive allele
- p² is the frequency of the homozygous dominant genotype
- 2pq is the frequency of the heterozygous genotype
- q² is the frequency of the homozygous recessive genotype
To use the Hardy-Weinberg equation, one must determine the allele frequencies in a population. The equation helps in understanding how allele frequencies relate to genotype frequencies in a stable population.